ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar visited the National Press Club (NPC) Islamabad and inaugurated its new website, while announcing that a modern digital lab would be established at the club within two months.
At the ceremony, NPC President Abdul Razzaq Sial and Secretary Dr Furqan Rao announced honorary membership of the press club for the federal minister. Dr Furqan Rao gave the minister a detailed briefing on the new website.
Detailed discussions were held on journalists’ welfare, digital training, job security, housing, health card, special grant for the press club, problems faced by the media industry and the development of the National Press Club on modern lines.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Attaullah Tarar congratulated the NPC management on the successful launch of the website and said the initiative would significantly improve transparency, record management and administrative affairs. He said it would also help make the National Press Club a model press club in Pakistan.
The minister said digitalisation of institutions had become essential in the present era, adding that journalists needed awareness of modern technology, artificial intelligence, digital media and new journalistic skills.
He said the government was seriously working on protection of employment of media house workers, timely payment of dues, housing issues of journalists, restoration of the health card and other welfare projects. He added that efforts would also be made to provide digital skills training to journalists and to reach an agreement with a comprehensive educational institution for this purpose.
Tarar said the government would extend all possible cooperation to provide modern training to journalists so they could meet the requirements of journalism at international standards.
Referring to the media industry’s financial difficulties, the minister said the government was fully aware of the challenges and efforts were being made to ensure that media houses paid salaries and dues to their employees on time. He also stressed that if employees were to be laid off in any media organisation, a comprehensive policy should be prepared to protect those journalists and their families.
He proposed that all relevant institutions, organisations and media owners should sit together and prepare a joint strategy for job security and stability of employment.
The federal minister said media freedom and a strong print and electronic media were basic requirements of any democratic society. He said the government believed in media freedom and would continue to play every possible role in resolving issues faced by journalists. He added that a strong print and electronic media promoted balanced information and responsible journalism in society.
On the NPC’s demand for restoration of the housing quota for journalists, Tarar termed the demand justified and assured that the relevant authorities would be contacted immediately. He also assured full cooperation on restoration of the journalists’ health card, the press club’s special grant and other welfare projects.
The minister said the Islamabad National Press Club was the country’s most important journalistic platform, and its development, provision of modern facilities and financial stability were among the government’s priorities. He said positive progress would also be made on the press club’s special grant and other development projects.
He described the recent elections of the National Press Club as pleasant, transparent and a reflection of democratic traditions. He said acceptance of the election results by both groups with an open heart was a sign of unity and maturity of the journalist community.
Tarar expressed the resolve that the government would continue practical measures in collaboration with the NPC administration for resolving the issues of the journalist community and promoting the media.
NPC President Abdul Razzaq Sial welcomed the federal information minister and said journalists had been facing issues related to housing quota, health card, press club grant, payment of dues and other basic matters for several years. He demanded that the government take immediate and practical steps to resolve these longstanding issues.
NPC Secretary Dr Furqan Rao said preparation of the new website and digitalisation of members’ records was an important milestone for the institution. He said the website would contain complete profiles, identity information and professional details of every member, while members would also be able to update their profiles and introductions online. He said this would make the administrative system more transparent and effective.
Finance Secretary Abid Abbasi, in his address, referred to the financial difficulties faced by the media industry and said protection of journalists’ employment, timely payment of salaries, financial assistance to the press club and special grants were the need of the hour.
At the end of the ceremony, Attaullah Tarar was presented a certificate of honorary membership by the National Press Club. He also distributed certificates among participants who completed a month-long digital training programme organised by the NPC.
PIO Madam Raisa Adil, NPC President Abdul Razzaq Sial, Secretary Dr Furqan Rao, Finance Secretary Abid Abbasi, Senior Vice President Ehtisham-ul-Haq, Vice President Bashir Chaudhry, Joint Secretary Chaudhry Javed Bhagat, Syed Aun Shirazi, Shakeela Jalil, governing body members Ayesha Naz and Mudassar Lang, senior journalists Haji Muhammad Nawaz Raza, Shakeel Qarar, Shehryar Khan, Tariq Mahmood Sameer and Dr Saadia Kamal, along with a large number of media workers and press club members, attended the ceremony.
