LAHORE: Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari has announced the provincial government’s plan to expand the CM Punjab Journalist Support Fund for the welfare of journalists.
According to the minister, the CM Punjab is taking revolutionary initiatives for journalist community’s welfare including doubling the Journalist Support Fund from Rs50 million to Rs100 million.
The minister also revealed that the Punjab government had also approved funds for helping 23 journalists in marriages of their daughters.
Meanwhile, the Journalist Support Fund had also approved medical treatment for 63 journalists. Azma Bukhari asserted that the Punjab government was determined to address journalists’ concerns.
Furthermore, Azma also disclosed that the Punjab government would soon issue ‘Himmat Cards’ and ‘Sehat Cards’ for healthcare facilities for the journalist’ community.
An important meeting was held regarding the CM Punjab Journalist Support Fund under the chairmanship of minister Azma Bukhari.
During the meeting, multiple grants were approved for 85 journalists, while there were many applications that could not be approved due to lack of funds.
According to details, those applications would be approved in the next quarter. he meeting was attended by Additional Information Secretary M Nawaz Gondal, Deputy Secretary Finance Rafiah Qayyum, DGPR Ghulam Saghir Shahid, Lahore Press Club President Arshad Ansari and other senior officials.
Punjab government’s Directorate General Public Relations (DGPR) describes Journalist Support Fund as: “Provision of supplementary grants to media bodies/press clubs of Punjab for construction of their buildings/offices and purchase of furniture and fixture etc. Moreover, housing schemes have been established for journalists. So far there are three housing schemes in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Multan.”
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