17 January 2005	Monday	06 Zilhaj 1425

KARACHI, Jan 16: The government is striving to bring about positive improvements in the lives of people. This was stated by the minister of state for information and broadcasting, Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli.

She was speaking as the chief guest at a ceremony organized by the Lions Club International to honour senior journalists for their service to society at a hotel on Sunday.

"The overall target of the government is to elevate the living conditions of the masses in Pakistan," the minister said, adding that steps were also being taken for enhancing the country's prestige in the comity of nations.

She called upon the masses as well as members of the civil society to strengthen the hands of the government in these endeavours. She also lauded the role of the Lions Club, and said that services of such networks were required for good causes.

Referring to the demands of journalists for implementation of the seventh wage board award, she said there was no issue, which could not be solved through negotiations.

The minister said she had asked the federal secretary for information to meet a delegation of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) to initiate the process for resolving the issue. She said that she would invite a PFUJ delegation to her office to listen to its point of view.

The minister said that delegations of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) and the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) would also be invited after Eid ul Azha to hear to their points of view on the issue. She was of the view that with good intentions and commitment, issues could be resolved through negotiations. - APP