Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhary Saturday said the PTI government believed in the constitutional and democratic rights of the freedom of expression in the country, reported 24News HD TV channel.

The information minister addressed a virtual meeting of the representatives of National, Lahore, and Karachi press clubs.

During the meeting, the information minister told the journalists about the Protection of Journalists Bill. He told the journalist that how to be benefitted from the New Pakistan Housing Project. He ordered the relevant authorizes to give relief package to the families of the Covid-19 affected journalists.  

State Minister for Information Farrukh Habib also attended the meeting.

On the occasion, Fawad Chaudhary said that Imran Khan-led PTI government believed in the constitutional and democratic rights of the freedom of expression in the country. He said journalists’ welfare was the priority of their government. He said the Protection of Journalists Bill was a big milestone towards the safety and rights of the journalists.

According to the bill, no one can ask to reveal the sources of the news from the journalist and the safety of the journalists has been ensured, said the information minister, adding that it was mandatory for the media houses to provide safety kits to the journalists who went go to the conflict zone.

He said they were also making efforts to clear the payables of the media houses. He said they had paid Rs340million and some Rs150 million will be paid immediately after Eid.

He said he and the state minister would be in contact with the representatives of the journalists’ organizations and press clubs. He said the PTI government wanted to provide a housing facility to the journalists. He asked the press clubs to devise procedures and standards in this regard.

He also said protecting the interests of the state should be the first and foremost priority for all of us.

On the occasion, Farrukh Habib said that he would start paying visits to the press clubs soon after Eid. The representatives of the National, Lahore and Karachi press clubs appreciated the efforts of Fawad Chaudhary for the Journalists’ Protection Bill. They briefed the information minister regarding the issues facing by the press clubs.