Daily Times

Minister for Planning, Development, Reforms and Special Initiatives Asad Umar said that the government would take all possible steps to solve the financial crisis of newspaper hawkers.

He expressed these views while meeting a delegation at his office in Islamabad on Sunday.

The delegation included Secretary General of All Pakistan Akhbar Farosh Federation Tika Khan, former president of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry Zafar Bakhtawari and PTI local leader Jamshed Mughal.

Tika Khan in his requests regarding the financial difficulties of the newspaper hawkers said that although newspapers are being published in this pandemic but the supply, and demand of newspapers have been greatly reduced. government has announced a relief package for the poor, laborers and small traders, so they should also announce a relief package for newspaper hawkers.

Zafar Bakhtawari told Asad Umar in the meeting that Tika Khan is a prominent leader of Pakistan’s newspaper industry and he has spent his entire life fighting for the rights of newspaper hawkers. The popularity of the government will be increased if a relief package is issued for this sector.

Local PTI leader Jamshed Mughal, also briefed Asad Umar on the support of newspaper hawkers for PTI in the last elections and requested for their relief package. Asad Omar said that the government would soon prepare a plan in this regard and provide relief to the newspaper hawkers.