For 21 journos, a free trip to London

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 6 May 2012 |  Rashid Ali

A report says 21 journalists are set to travel with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on a week-long trip to London. The Prime Minister Secretariat is finalizing the media list, with the government expected to cover expenses. The delegation is reported to exceed 70 people, raising questions about the trip’s purpose.

Summary

ISLAMABAD: For some journalists there is nothing quite like an all-expenses paid foreign trip and it is all the more tempting when they are to fly out with the country’s prime minister. It wouldn’t matter at all for the authorities to spend public money on journalists; put them up in plush hotels, pay them daily allowances, and pamper them no end. This is what is likely to happen when a group of 21 journalists takes off shortly with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on a week-long trip to London. The News reported Sunday that officials at the Prime Minister Secretariat were in the process of finalizing the list of journalists. Earlier on Wednesday the paper put the total strength of the delegation at 70-plus “including hangers on and politicians seeking to spend summer time in London.” The paper said this suggested that this may be more of an appeasement trip than official business. Journalists are routinely a part of such delegations but instead of their respective organizations covering their expenses, the government pays for their trips! (Rashid Ali is a guest writer for JournalismPakistan.com)