KP govt fully believed in freedom of press: CM

F.P. Report

PESHAWAR: A delegation of the newly elected cabinet members of Shangla Press Club called on the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan here on Thursday and discussed with him the matters related to the welfare of journalists as well as issues being faced by the journalist community of Shangla. Provincial Minister Shaukat Ali Yousufzai, Secretary Information Zakaullah Khattak, and other concerned officials were also present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also administrated oath to the newly elected cabinet of Shangla Press Club and announced a special grant of Rs. 5 million for Shangla Press Club.

The Chief Minister directed the Information department to take steps in order to resolve the issues of Shangla and Bisham Press Clubs.

Talking to the delegates on the occasion, Mahmood Khan said that the provincial government fully believed in the freedom of press and he has always welcomed the positive criticism from the journalistic community.

“Media is the fourth pillar of the state and journalists are an integral part of the society”, he remarked and said that the role of positive journalism like other sectors has always been prominent in establishing a peaceful and ideal society.

Touching upon his government’s efforts to strengthen and promote the sector, he said that the provincial government was taking result-oriented steps for the welfare of journalists and resolving their problems adding that millions of rupees had been spent so far in providing grants in aid to the Press Club across the province in addition to the construction and rehabilitation of various press clubs.

The Chief Minister further said that the government has special focus on strengthening and promoting media and journalist activities in the newly merged districts and to this end, work was in full swing on the projects regarding construction and rehabilitation of press clubs in the merged districts.

The Chief Minister felicitated the newly elected President of Shangla Press Club Khalid Khan and other members and expressed the hope that the newly elected Cabinet of Shangla Press Club would utilize its capabilities effectively to resolve the issues of journalists in the area.