Information minister reiterates govt's commitment to ensure free, independent media

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhary reiterated on Monday the current government's commitment to ensure free and independent media in the country.

The minister's remarks came on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day and he stressed that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led government considered freedom of the press as a fundamental, democratic and constitutional right.

"There is no concept of media censorship in the country," Minister Fawad said. "Media in Pakistan enjoys unprecedented freedom. The government neither believes nor practices any press advice. Rather, it encourages self-regulation by the media."

The information minister further said that the current government was taking all possible measures to create a congenial environment for journalists to perform their professional obligations.

"The steps undertaken to ensure welfare and security of the journalists and media workers include the 8th Wage Board Award and the establishment of Information Commission," he said.

He further added that the information ministry fully supported the idea of the Journalist Protection Act which would go a long way in ensuring the safety and security of the journalist community.

We are also keen to equip the media with modern technologies and improve the human resource, the minister maintained.

Read more: Press Freedom Day

"The working journalists under certain criteria will be accommodated in the Prime Minister's Housing Scheme," he said. "The government is also contemplating to award health cards to the journalists to enable them to avail healthcare facilities for themselves and their families."

Minister Fawad assured that the government would continue to facilitate the growth of free and responsible media and ensure the safety and security of the working journalists.

Meanwhile, in his tweets, the minister paid tributes to those journalists who laid down their lives in the line of duty.

"Journalists in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Palestine and other areas go through daily hardships to write the truth," the minister pointed out.

It is part of this government's agenda to introduce new media technologies and new projects would also be brought this year especially for the young journalists.