Minister says information ministry to table bill on journalists' protection

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 15 January 2019

Federal Minister Fawad Chaudhry announced plans to table a bill in the National Assembly aimed at protecting journalists. This initiative is part of broader media reforms being pursued by the ministry.

Summary

KARACHI - Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said Tuesday his ministry planned to table a bill in the National Assembly for the protection of journalists.

The new legislation will be similar to the one enacted in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

The minister spoke at an awards ceremony, organized by the Centre for Excellence in Journalism (CEJ), in collaboration with the Centre for Communications Programs Pakistan, Palladium Pakistan and the Sukh Initiative at the Institute of Business Administration’s city campus.

Chaudhry spoke at length of the reforms he is trying to bring about at the ministry. “I am honored to be here, and I think this is a brilliant initiative.”

He announced that the information ministry was trying to work on establishing a media technology school in Pakistan.

He added that he was working on providing health insurance to working journalists and was committed to safeguarding the interests of journalists in Pakistan. “The future is of ideas, where only superior ideas will win, and they can only be generated through constructive debate and dialogue.”

KEY POINTS:

• Minister Fawad Chaudhry announced a new bill for journalists' protection.
• Legislation will mirror protections in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
• Efforts include establishing a media technology school in Pakistan.
• Chaudhry aims to provide health insurance for working journalists.
• The initiative focuses on safeguarding journalists' interests.