Pakistan is planning to soon introduce the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Bill, 2020 in parliament that gives physical and financial protection to the journalists.

This was announced by Pakistan’s Information and Broadcasting Minister Shibli Faraz at the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) seminar on Freedom of Press and Resolution of Media Crisis.

Stressing that the government gives due importance to freedom of expression, Faraz said the government would do its best to solve the problems of the journalist community.

The minister said work on the bill, which was prepared by the ministry of human rights last year in February, is in progress, according to The News International.

He said the Imran Khan government brought a bill in parliament on the issues of salaries of journalists, but it was unfortunately rejected by the opposition.

He said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has paid most of the dues of media houses of its own tenure and previous governments as well.

Faraz said the media houses should pay salaries to media workers timely and commended the services of journalists particularly during COVID-19.

At the seminar, the PFUJ leaders announced the start of a long march from Quetta in April and a protest movement in the capital to press for their demands.

According to a PFJU resolution, a protest sit-in would continue in the capital till the acceptance of their demands. The protest will continue till all anti-media policies are withdrawn.

It said the government had failed to protect journalists and arrest those involved in kidnapping them.

In the World Press Freedom Index for 2020, Pakistan ranked 145 out of 180 countries.

The PFJU also demanded fair distribution of advertisements and condemned sacking of journalists. It also urged the government to implement the wage award in letter and spirit.

The seminar was also addressed by Federal Minister Fawad Chaudhry, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former minister Ahsan Iqbal, former Senate chairman Raza Rabbani, PPP’s Farhatullah Babar, PFUJ President Shahzada Zulfiqar, Secretary General Nasir Zaidi, former president Afzal Butt, RIUJ President Amir Sajjad Syed and Vice-President Maira Imran