JournalismPakistan.com
April 02, 2020

ISLAMABAD—The government has decided to provide protective kits to journalists visiting quarantine centers and intensive care units (ICUs) to report on the coronavirus pandemic, a top official said here.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan said this at a press conference on Wednesday. She said that journalists were playing a front-line role in the fight against coronavirus and steps were being taken to ensure their safety and health.

She further said that the government would soon launch a "Care for Media" mobile app, which would provide information to journalists if someone from the community tested positive for COVID-19 and help them with treatment.

Urging media owners to take the press clubs on board, she said hawkers were the most affected by the lockdown. Newspaper distribution had been disrupted, and hawkers would also be included in the Ehsaas emergency cash program.

Stressing the need to share positive news about recoveries, she said: "Hearing negativity all day, constantly seeing numbers increasing, can have a negative impact on people’s mental health.

"By giving airtime to recovered patients, we can reduce the stigma against them."

The number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan has increased to 2,238, with 31 deaths.—Agencies