PTI government committed to provide proper legal cover to protect rights of journalists and media workers: Firdous

KARACHI: An efficient legislative cover may soon be provided to the workers, pertaining to electronic and print media, to prevent their exploitation in any manner, said Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting, Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan here on Monday.

Addressing the executive committee members of Karachi Press Club,  she said that PTI government firmly believes in the independence of the media and empowerment of the journalists as well as workers associated with the media industry.

"Reforms are being incorporated in the existing laws so that neither the owners may exploit the workers nor the workers could abuse their rights," she said.

Mentioning that importance and relevance of the media cannot be ignored, the Special Assistant to the PM said lacunae in the existing laws as well as in EOBI, that does not cover media workers, are being addressed in a comprehensive manner.

Steps were said to be in process to also cover workers associated with electronic media along with print media with due attention towards the fact that media has emerged to be a strong industry in the country and ought to be treated in the particular context.

She, on the occasion also, took exception to the stance adopted by many of the print and electronic media houses about their inability to clear dues of the workers and laying them off.

As for health and insurance coverage of the media workers, Dr. Awan said an comprehensive plan is underway to provide insaaf health cards to the workers while media workers are also to be covered under  PM's Ehsaas Program.

Responding to difficulties faced by the members of Karachi Press Club the Assistant to the PM said they would be facilitated in construction of their houses.