ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage on Friday directed the Information and Broadcasting Division to complete consultation with media organisations and finalise the draft Journalists Welfare and Protection Bill and present it to the committee in May 2017.
The committee met under the chairmanship of Pir Muhammad Aslam Bodla in Islamabad.
The Information and Broadcasting Division director general briefed the committee on progress on the bill. The committee was informed that the private members’ bills moved by MNA Sahibzada Tariqullah and Senator Prof Ghafoor Ahmad relating to the protection and welfare of journalists were clubbed together and process of consultation was carried out with media organisations, civil society and other stakeholders and their input was incorporated therein to bring a comprehensive legislative proposal that would ensure welfare and protection of media workers.
He assured the committee that the Information and Broadcasting Division would complete the process and present the draft proposal within the given timeframe. The chairman asked the members of the committee to give their input, if any, to the division so that it could be incorporated therein.
Later, the Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) chairman briefed the committee on the working and scope of activities of the academy. He said that the PAL was working aggressively in accordance with its mandate for the promotion of literature and literary activities within the country, besides ensuring welfare of writers. He briefed the committee on the publications by the PAL and criteria adopted for selection of publication of literary work of writers. The chairman informed the members that the academy had established its bureau of translation with its indigenous resources for translation of literary work into regional and national language. He also informed the committee about the literary activities organised by the PAL and measures initiated for welfare of indigent writers during the last three years.
The committee appreciated the performance of the PAL and extended its all-out support for achieving its objectives. The committee members later visited the library of the academy.
