F.P. Report
Karachi: Sindh Minister for Information Sharjeel Inam Memon on Tuesday administered oath to the newly elected body of Pakistan Association of Press Photographers (PAPP) at a ceremony held at Karachi Press Club. President Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists GM Jamali, President Karachi Press Club Fazil Jamili, General Secretary Muhammad Rizwan Bhatti and other senior journalists were also present on the occasion.
Addressing the ceremony, Sharjeel Inam Memon congratulated the newly elected office bearers and members of the governing body of PAPP.
He said that photographers and cameramen plays their significant role during the coverage of the media events dauntlessly and most of them endager their lives while capturing or taking photos of any event during extremely difficult situations thus majority of photographers and cameramen’s lives remain at stake.
Sharjeel Memon added that photographers and cameramen remain at front during shelling and water canons while covering different protests events and even during blast’s incidents adding that they perform their duties without fear putting their lives at risk. He said that the hardwork and commitment of cameramen and photographers is matchless in comparison to any field. Sindh Minister uttered that media houses are paying insufficient wages and incentives to their workers resultantly they face hardships to survive . He stressed upon the owners of the media houses to provide adequate salaries and benefits to the workers.
Sharjeel Inam Memon said that Sindh government has increased PAPP grants from one million to two million and Sindh government is working on a new policy for journalists regarding facility of life and health insurances adding that photographers and cameramen would be covered under this policy.
He said that PPP had always worked for the betterment of journalists as freedom of expression has always been it’s one of the top priority. All the welfare schemes for the journalists were launched by the Pakistan People’s Party governments.
He added that Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and President Asif Ali Zardari are concerned for the media persons. He said that Pakistan People’s Party had given instruction to Sindh government to put the welfare of journalists at its top agenda . He said that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto had also introduced policies for the betterment of media and it’s workers during her governments.
Sharjeel Inam Memon said : taking measures for welfare of journalists brings him personal satisfaction and peace of mind and said Sindh Information Department has been provided all possible assistance to the journalists in their difficult times.
