ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on Wednesday said that the interim relief of the wage board award would be notified within a few days.

Addressing the standing committee of the National Assembly on information in Parliament, Dr Awan said the interim wage board award had been formulated by taking all stakeholders into confidence. “Legal formalities are being fulfilled to finalise the eighth wage board award,” she claimed.

Responding to concerns of committee members, she said they should invite media representatives to the meeting and listen to their concerns directly. She said the government was concerned about the financial woes faced by media workers.

Committee members expressed concern over non-payment of salaries to media workers and directed the information ministry to take stringent measures to clear remaining dues without further delay and report to the committee in its next meeting.

Javed Latif, chairman of the standing committee, said the issue of salaries non-payment to the media workers was a serious concern and directed the information ministry to ensure effective legislation to safeguard the interest of journalists.

The information ministry was also asked to propose legislation to remove complications in the existing system.

Published in Dawn, June 27th, 2019