RAWALPINDI: Punjab Information Minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan on Saturday said that right to information act will soon be promulgated in Punjab to facilitate mediapersons in getting the required information from all relevant quarters.

The minister stated this during an informal interactive session with Rawalpindi/Islamabad based journalists of print media at Rawalpindi Arts Council.

The journalists apprised the minister about their grievances and presented various suggestions to resolve the issues being faced by them.

Mr Chohan said that a comprehensive plan would be evolved to facilitate working journalists with regard to provision of medical facilities, provision of financial help in deserving cases and protecting their rights by coordinating all concerned organisations.

He assured them of issuance of accreditation cards to bonafide journalists within one week period form directorate general public relations and official matters relating to media groups would be settled in transparent and judicious manners.

He said that in this connection draft of new advertisement policy had been finalized and it would be implemented after approval.

Replying to a question the information minister agreed with a proposal to nominate focal media persons in provincial government departments for timely confirmation of a news item and elaboration of any query of journalists with regard to any specific news.

The minister was of the view that journalism is the fourth pillar of nation and its due role in nation building could not be ignored.

He said for the promotion of art and culture, a number of programmes would be launched in the coming days.

“The cultural mela will be launched in the art councils of Punjab. Talent hunt programme will also be launched,” he said.

He said Iqbal day on Nov 9 would be celebrated at Mazar-i-Iqbal and a number of programmes had been prepared. “Drama on Sepoy Maqbool Hussain is being prepared and it will be played at Al-Hamra Arts Council Lahore soon,” he said.

He said all the art councils had been asked to promote the art and culture of the province and the country and in this regard, utilize the services of all the senior and junior artists. “There is a need to promote our own culture instead of neighbouring India,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2018