ISLAMABAD: Principal Information Officer (PIO) Raeesa Adil visited the National Press Club (NPC) Islamabad, where she held a special session with women journalists and announced steps for resolving their issues as well as launching training programmes for journalists.
NPC President Abdul Razzaq Sial, Secretary Dr Furqan Rao, Finance Secretary Abid Abbasi and women office-bearers welcomed the PIO on her arrival at the press club. Senior Vice President Ehtisham-ul-Haq, Vice President Bashir Chaudhry, Senior Joint Secretary Shiraz Gardezi, Joint Secretary Syed Aun Shirazi, governing body members Amir Rafiq Butt, Farah Rabbani and Ayesha Naz, former governing body member Naveed Ahmed Sheikh, other members of the governing body and a large number of women members of the NPC associated with different media houses were also present.
Speaking on the occasion, Raeesa Adil said training courses would be launched for journalists in collaboration with the Pakistan Information Service Academy. She said the programmes would particularly focus on freelancing, digital media, climate reporting and modern journalistic skills so that journalists could keep pace with the changing media landscape.
She said the media was rapidly entering the digital era and capacity building of journalists, especially women, had become the need of the hour. She assured the participants that she would effectively convey the issues of women journalists to the relevant authorities and extend all possible cooperation.
The PIO also stressed the need for facilities such as a separate ladies’ room, a rest area and day-care for children at the National Press Club for women journalists. She assured that these proposals would be taken up at the relevant forums.
During the session, proposals were also discussed regarding accreditation cards and health cards for women journalists, accreditation cards for digital journalists, and the establishment of a women journalists’ help desk at the Press Information Department for pending issues. Raeesa Adil assured the participants of her support on these matters.
She said assuming the responsibility of PIO was both an honour and a major responsibility for her. She added that the government and media were partners and there was a need to further strengthen trust and communication between them so that accurate and responsible information could reach the public.
NPC President Abdul Razzaq Sial thanked the PIO for visiting the press club and briefed her about the steps being taken by the club for women and other members. He said women journalists were playing an important role in the media, but they faced issues such as job insecurity, low salaries, lay-offs, lack of training opportunities and absence of facilities at workplaces.
He said the NPC had organised a month-long training workshop to enhance the capacity of its members, in which a large number of members participated.
NPC Secretary Dr Furqan Rao welcomed the PIO and said training workshops were being held at the club for both male and female members to improve their capacity, enabling them to perform their professional responsibilities in a better manner. He urged the government to take effective steps for resolving the problems of women journalists.
Finance Secretary Abid Abbasi thanked the PIO for visiting the press club and said a large number of women associated with different media houses were members of the NPC.
Former NPC secretary Nayyar Ali, Joint Secretary Sehrish Qureshi, Joint Secretary Shakeela Jalil, senior journalists Fauzia Kulsoom Rana and others also spoke at the event and presented suggestions.
Later, a question-and-answer session was held between the women journalists and the PIO, during which detailed discussion took place on possible solutions to various issues faced by women in the journalism profession, including difficulties in obtaining accreditation cards.
At the end of the event, the National Press Club presented a commemorative shield to Raeesa Adil.
