Punjab government to give tax exemptions to media houses, clear dues

Punjab Information Minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan said on Friday that the provincial government has decided to give tax exemptions to media houses and clear their outstanding dues so that they don't have to face financial losses due to the ongoing virus that had brought the country to a halt.

Talking to media, here today, the minister expressed the hope that the impact of the tax exemption and payment of dues would also reach media workers. The minister said the provincial information department will pay Rs100,000 to any journalist who contracts Covid-19 while reporting on the situation. In case a journalist passes away from the virus, the Punjab information department will pay Rs1 million to the family of the deceased.

The Punjab information department will provide masks and protective gear for newspaper hawkers so that they would be protected from the virus. The process of distribution of protective gear will be started from Saturday and will be handed over to the union president.

Answering a question about extension in lockdown period, the minister said that Prime Minister Imran Khan in consultation with NDMA and other stakeholders will take decision in this regard. He further said the government is utilizing resources to deal with COVID-19 and also helping the needy in this difficult time.