Daily Times

Advisor to Sindh CM on Information, Archives, Law and Anti-corruption Barrister Murtaza Wahab has said that long awaited issues of the journalist community will be solved on priority.

He announced that a health card scheme for journalists would soon be implemented.

Barrister Murtaza Wahab was speaking at the convention of the Karachi Press Club by the Karachi Union of Journalists. The convention was attended by a large number of prominent journalists. The convention was arranged by senior journalists from the Federal Union of Journalist. The president, G M Jamali, and officials Aaijaz Jamali, Hassan Abbas, and others were also present.

During the convention, the agenda was to discuss a number of issues, including salaries of workers of the print and electronic media. Non-payment of salaries, termination from jobs, abolition/step down of contract system, lack of health facilities and establishment of eighth wage board award.

The CM’s advisor was told that print and electronic media houses owners do not release salaries of journalists on time, and there was a delay of five to six months in payment of salaries. As a result, journalists are facing hardship and are unable to support their families. Barrister Murtaza Wahab assured the journalists that he would undertake efforts to solve the matter on a war-footing.

On a query, the advisor said that the Pakistan Peoples Party had never compromised on the freedom of expression. “I have ordered that Information Department of the Government of Sindh should revive its advertisement policy and it will soon be approved by the Sindh Cabinet.”

APNS Journal Secretary Syed Sarmad Ali, President CPNE Jabbar Khatak, President FUJ, G.M. Jamali, President KUJ, Ajiz Jamali and other renowned journalists and representatives of the APNS, CPNE, KUJ and others address at the occasion.

Published in Daily Times, September 19^th 2018.