ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Dr.
Firdous Ashiq Awan has said that government would protect the rights of
journalists through ‘Journalists Protection Bill’.
Talking to
media men here on Monday outside the Parliament, she said that
government would not allow the journalists’ funds to fall prey to red
tapism.
The bill is comprehensive and consists of three parts
that deal with freedom of access to the information, provision of
facilities to journalists and formation of a Journalists’ Council, she
said.
According to the Bill, Rs. 0.5 million would be paid to
journalists martyr during job, Rs. 0.3 million to disabled journalists
and Rs. 0.2 million to injured journalists, said the Minister.
She
said that the legislators have given 10 suggestions in the bill for
security and welfare of the journalist community while 20 Senators
presented the bill in Senate meeting including Prof. Khurshid and Raja
Zafar ul Haq.
Giving details, she said that free transport, free
parking, free transportation, free medical facilities to journalists,
their family including parents in all government hospitals, should be
provided to the journalist community.
Dr. Firdous said that free education should also be provided to the children of journalists besides scholarships. Online
