Govt trying to address media industry’s issues, says Firdous

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has said that the government is trying to address the issues being faced by the media industry in the prevailing circumstances.

She said this while talking to a delegation of All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors (CPNE) and Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) late on Monday night.

The SAPM said that the Pakistan Tehreek - e -Insaf (PTI) government firmly believes in the fundamental democratic right of freedom of expression and it would continue to provide all possible facilities for the pro motion of free and responsible journalism. Freedom of media and democracy were interlinked and cannot be ignored, she added. Both sides also discussed a special relief package in the context of the problems being faced by the media industry and the challenges being posed by the coronavirus pandemic. Dr Firdous said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has issued clear in structions for payment of outstanding dues to media houses. She said that steps were being taken to ensure that there should be no delay in this regard.

Appreciating the media’s performance at this time of pandemic, she said that journalists and media work ers were playing an important role in the fight against the pandemic. “The government wants to ensure the wellbeing of journalists and media workers and soon a separate meeting will be convened to address the is sues of newspaper hawkers,” she added.