SOUTH WAZIRISTAN:(Noor Ali Wazir) Merged areas Journalists demands grants promised by former Chief Minister special grant of Rs 2 million each for various press clubs in merged districts Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which has not been implemented despite a long time, due to which a wave of disappointment and concern has spread among tribal journalists.
According to the details, during the previous government’s tenure, the provincial government had promised to provide financial assistance of Rs 2 million to each press club to promote journalism in tribal districts and improve the plight of local press clubs. The purpose of this grant was to renovate press clubs, provide furniture and provide a better working environment for journalists. However, despite the passage of months, files are still lying around government offices and the release of funds has not been possible yet.
Presidents and representative journalists of various press clubs of the merged districts have reacted strongly to this situation and said that tribal journalists are already performing their duties in extremely difficult conditions. They neither have proper offices nor basic facilities.The journalist community of merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly FATA) has once again become the target of government indifference.
The Rs 2 million per press club grant announced in the previous period should be released immediately. Practical measures: The current Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa should ensure the provision of funds in practice instead of limiting these announcements to mere press statements. The scope of health cards, insurance and other benefits should be expanded for journalists of tribal districts.
Tribal journalists say that on one hand the government claims to bring the merged districts into the national mainstream, but on the other hand, people associated with the important pillar of society, namely “journalism”, are being deprived of their legitimate rights. They have appealed to Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to intervene in the matter himself and oblige the Information Department and the relevant authorities to remove bureaucratic obstacles and immediately release the grants of journalists.
Journalist organizations have warned that if their legitimate demands are not considered immediately, they will be forced to take the path of protest, as the lack of facilities is severely affecting their professional activities.
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