Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has called on Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to play their role in establishing a welfare mechanism for journalists, saying that television channels generate revenue from government and private-sector advertisements as well as digital platforms but have yet to establish a dedicated fund for journalists’ welfare.
In a post on X on Thursday, Tarar said that broadcasters had not introduced a compensation package for journalists who died while performing their professional duties, despite their multiple sources of advertising and digital revenue.
“TV channels receive government advertisements, while the private sector also provides advertising revenue. They also generate separate income through digital platforms. Despite these revenue streams, no fund has been established for journalists’ welfare, nor has any compensation package been introduced for journalists who die in the line of duty,” he said.
“The Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) will have to develop a mechanism to address this. Things cannot continue this way,” the minister added.
Tarar later reposted a social media user’s response to his remarks, which called on him to examine the salaries and working conditions of employees at major newspapers and television channels.
The user urged the minister to identify media organisations that had not increased their employees’ salaries for a long time and highlight the working conditions of their drivers. The post also called on him to make the organisations’ advertising revenue and tax contributions public.
“Allah has given you this opportunity. Make history. Opportunities don’t come again and again,” the user wrote.
Reposting the message, Tarar said that PEMRA would also have to play its role in addressing the matter.
“PEMRA will also have to play its role in this matter. This cannot continue like this,” he wrote.
The minister’s remarks came after he visited journalist Muhammad Aslam Khokhar at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad to inquire about his health and treatment.
In an earlier post on X, Tarar said he had met Khokhar and obtained details from doctors about his health and course of treatment. He also handed the journalist an employment letter during the visit.
“We stand with the journalist community in their issues and difficulties; we will not leave any journalist alone in difficult times,” Tarar said, while praying for Khokhar’s recovery.
During his visit, the minister also met the doctors treating the journalist to seek information about his condition and ongoing treatment.
