Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Wednesday handed over a cheque of Rs 50 million to Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) as Endowment Fund for the welfare of journalists. Speaking on the occasion at Chief Minister House, he said that journalists have always remained in the fore front of the struggle for the rights of people, democracy and against dictators.
Shah said the government takes the criticism of media with open mind and as an advice. "We welcome the media to pinpoint the mistakes of the government, but we also seek appreciation from media for our good work," he added. He assured the support of the government to the journalists' community to their genuine demands and added that the government also seeks a reciprocal response from the media. He said that Rs 70 billion has been given to women in Pakistan to make them successful entrepreneurs.
Information Minister Shazia Marri while paying rich tributes to journalists said that Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto had always struggled along with journalist for press freedom. She urged the newspapers and TV channels owners to respect the journalists as they are the asset of their organisations. "Your organisation is run by the journalists and they make your organization prominent," she noted. She also paid special tributes to those departed journalists including Sabihuddin Ghausi who also fought against dictators along with political workers and leaders.
The minister said that journalists had created a new relationship by holding their function at Chief Minister House. Earlier, central leader of KUJ and Editor Daily Express Tahir Najmi, secretary PFUJ Amin Yousuf, President KUJ G M Jamali and Secretary KUJ Fahim Siddiqui spoke on the occasion and said that this fund will be utilized for the welfare of journalists and their families.