ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The minister for information Pervaiz Rasheed has said that the government is committed to provide security to working journalists and media houses as conducive environment is pre-requisite for them to perform their duty without fear and intimidation.
In his address at an international conference on security of journalists in Islamabad on Tuesday, the minister said that media persons have a huge responsibility of conveying facts to the people and creating awareness but it has become more difficult for them to perform such duties in the prevailing circumstances.
The minister said that unfortunately in recent years Pakistan has become a dangerous place for journalists to perform their duties.
Last month, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) termed the year 2014 as among the worst in a decade for Pakistani media as at least 14 persons including eight journalists and six media workers lost their lives in various violent incidents across the country last year.
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Rasheed said that a committee has been formed regarding providing security to working journalists and media houses, and its first meeting is being held today.
The information minister further said that the government has taken several steps for wellbeing of journalists’ community to provide enabling environment to them to perform their provision of duties.
Pervaiz Rasheed said that the government has announced a financial assistance of Rs1 million for martyred and Rs0.3 million for injured and disabled. He said that a journalist endowment fund has also been established for welfare of the journalists.
