Prime Minister approves Rs500 million for Journalists' Endowment Fund
JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 29 March 2015
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The Prime Minister has allocated Rs500 million for a new endowment fund aimed at supporting journalists and their families. The initiative responds to ongoing concerns about the welfare of journalists in Pakistan.Summary
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has approved Rs500 million as seed money for journalists’ endowment fund for welfare of working journalists and their families.
An official of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting told JournalismPakistan.com the prime minister has also approved another summary for opening of a bank account for the fund. “The bank account will hopefully be opened next week and the government may hand over management of the fund and the account to Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors,” he said.
For several years, journalists unions, both national and international, have been pressing the government for setting up the fund as Pakistan has been declared one of the most dangerous countries for journalists.
Former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani also approved the “Journalist Victim Fund” during his tenure and granted Rs200 million as seed money for it but it never materialised.
The official said the Ministry of Finance has also approved the money for the fund, therefore it will be functional in the next couple of weeks.
KEY POINTS:
- Rs500 million approved for journalists' endowment fund
- Fund aims to support welfare of journalists and their families
- Bank account for the fund will be opened soon
- Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors may manage the fund
- Previous efforts for similar funds have not materialized
