Govt committed to welfare, capacity building of journalists, says Info Minister Tarar

Islamabad (Web Desk): Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Monday reaffirmed the government's commitment to improving the welfare of journalists and enhancing their professional skills, saying several initiatives are being introduced to support the media community.

He made these remarks while addressing the inauguration ceremony of the National Press Club’s official website in Islamabad.

Congratulating the National Press Club on the launch of its website, Tarar described the institution as a key pillar of Islamabad’s media community.

He welcomed the club’s move towards digitalisation, calling it an important step in keeping pace with modern technological developments.

The minister directed the relevant authorities to immediately begin work on establishing a digital laboratory at the National Press Club to help journalists adapt to evolving digital media requirements.

Highlighting the government's efforts to support the media industry, Tarar said steps were being taken to ensure the timely release of outstanding payments owed to television channels.

At the same time, he stressed that media organisations must fulfil their responsibility by paying journalists' salaries on time.

He announced that the government would soon introduce health cards for journalists as part of broader efforts to improve their social welfare.

He also said proposals were under consideration to resolve housing-related issues faced by journalists, adding that any future policy would be developed in consultation with representatives of the media fraternity.

Emphasising the growing importance of digital journalism, the information minister said digital content creation had become essential in today’s media landscape.

He added that the government plans to organise short-term training programmes to strengthen journalists’ professional skills and equip them with modern digital tools.

Tarar further said the government was working on a comprehensive policy aimed at addressing the financial difficulties faced by journalists and media organisations while promoting the sustainable development of Pakistan’s media sector.

He concluded by saying that the growth and strengthening of both electronic and print media require the collective efforts of the government and the journalistic community.