Khalid Hussain, President of the Gilgit-Baltistan Union of Journalists, accompanied by senior members Zakir and Waqar Rajput, met with Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Advocate Amjad Hussain to apprise him of the issues and concerns facing journalists.
Speaking on the occasion, Khalid Hussain noted that the welfare of journalists had been overlooked in the recent budget. He called for an increase in the Journalists’ Welfare Endowment Fund, the establishment of a media colony, and immediate progress on other projects related to journalists’ welfare.
Chief Minister Advocate Amjad Hussain stated that the previous government had already allocated Rs 100 million for the Journalists’ Welfare Endowment Fund; however, despite the passage of two years, the funds had not been utilized for the journalists’ welfare.
The Chief Minister announced that he would provide an additional Rs 100 million from his block allocation to the Journalists’ Welfare Endowment Fund, bringing the total endowment fund for journalists to Rs 200 million. He also directed that the existing fund be made operational within one month after completing the necessary legal formalities.
The Chief Minister emphasized that, in accordance with government policy, journalists should receive a minimum monthly wage of Rs 44,000. He stated that government advertisements for newspapers failing to pay their journalists’ salaries could be withheld in line with policy.
President Khalid Hussain welcomed the Chief Minister’s announcement and expressed his gratitude. He stated that the union would soon meet with the Secretary of Information to advance the process of operationalizing the Journalists’ Welfare Endowment Fund for the well-being of journalists.
He added that liaison with the government would continue regarding other welfare initiatives, including the Media Colony, professional training for journalists, and healthcare and education for journalists and their children.
Khalid Hussain further remarked that the issue regarding the 100-million-rupee endowment fund—allocated by the previous government but left unused for journalists’ welfare for two years—would also be raised.
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