Health program for journalists, artists launched

Beneficiaries can avail health insurance worth Rs1.5m per card at 1,200 hospitals across the country

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday launched the Prime Minister’s Health Program for Journalists, Media Workers, Artists and Technical resources and the Pakistan Code, a digital repository of federal laws, a mobile app, and website.

Under the health insurance card program, journalists, media workers, artists and technical resources will be able to get world-class health facilities free of charge in 1,200 hospitals across the country with an annual corporate health insurance worth Rs1.5 million.

Likewise, with the Pakistan Code website and mobile app, judges, lawyers, legal experts, law students, government officials, and the general public will be easily able to access all types of federal laws.

The prime minister on the occasion distributed health cards among prominent journalists.

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Addressing the ceremony, PM Shehbaz said for the first time in the history of the country, the government had launched such a facility for journalists and media workers who work in difficult situations.

He congratulated Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and her team for their work to finalise this program.

He also felicitated Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazir Tarrar for his efforts in launching the mobile app and website.

Shehbaz also announced a special fund for the journalists and media workers under which Rs4m would be paid in compensation amount to families of journalists and media workers who die in the line of duty. He said this amount would be increased gradually.

The prime minister said that ever since he took over in April 2022, he has faced immense criticism from journalists. However, he said he did not complain about such criticism as he believes in the freedom of media. Shehbaz added that criticism should be constructive and based on facts.

Meanwhile, Aurangzeb, who was present on the occasion, said that what Shehbaz had envisioned as an opposition leader about providing maximum facilities to journalists and media workers had now been implemented.