Here they go, on their own!

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 3 July 2013

Six journalists are traveling to China to cover Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's visit, independently of government sponsorship. This marks a shift from previous practices where journalists were funded by the government for such trips.

Summary

ISLAMABAD: Six journalists were heading to China Wednesday to cover Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s trip but for the first time perhaps were not being sponsored by the government.

The News reported Wednesday the media persons were to travel by commercial airlines and would not be on the PM’s plane.

All six represent the private media. The paper did not name the journalists, although it is being said Muhammad Malick (Dunya TV), Absar Alam (Aaj TV), Rana Jawad (Geo TV), Rao Khalid (Express News), Khushnud Ali Khan (Jinnah) and Mehtab (Ausaf) are making the trip.

The estimated budget, as calculated by the Information Ministry, is $3500 for each individual, the paper said.

The Prime Minister’s Office announced last month the government would not pay for journalists wanting to cover the premier’s foreign trips.

Successive governments have spent billions on official entourages of prime ministers and presidents. The recent declassification of information ministry’s secret fund revealed the government even used ‘secret funds’ to sponsor journalists’ foreign visits.

KEY POINTS:

• Six journalists travel independently to cover PM's trip to China.
• This is the first time they are not government-sponsored.
• Estimated cost per journalist is $3500.
• Known journalists include Muhammad Malick and Absar Alam.
• Government has previously used secret funds for foreign trips.