12 June 2004	Saturday	23 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

ISLAMABAD, June 11: The National Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution on Friday urging the government to take immediate steps for the implementation of the award of the seventh wage board for newspaper industry employees.

The resolution also called upon the government to link the issuance of government advertisements to newspapers in the country with the implementation of the award.

The vote on the resolution, moved by Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) deputy parliamentary leader Hafiz Hussain Ahmed and signed by representatives of all parliamentary groups in the house, came after Information and Broadcasting Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said the government would not oppose the move.

The minister promised to take the house resolution to the next meeting of the federal cabinet. MMA parliamentary leader Qazi Hussain Ahmed wanted an immediate assurance from Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali, who was present in the house, for the implementation of the wage award. But the prime minister preferred silence.