ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira Wednesday categorically rejected claims that the Ministry has any secret funds.

Talking to a private TV channel, he said, 'My ministry has no secret funds and I have not given any money to any journalist.'

However, he said, the ministry has welfare funds for journalists. The fund is used to support ailing journalists and for the wedding of their daughters.

He further said that the fund is given to journalists without any discrimination.

He invited mediapersons to visit his office to know the detailed record of the budget of the ministry and its expenditure.

Kaira said that the Associated Press of Pakistan and Press Information department have their separate funds.

He added the government was not controlling the media and PPP believed in its independence. – PPI