ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar has said the problems of newspaper vendors will be solved on a priority basis.

The minister held out the assurance during a meeting with secretary general of the All Pakistan Newspaper Vendors Federation Tika Khan, who along with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on CDA Affairs Ali Nawaz Awan, called on him at his office.

Tika Khan apprised the minister of the problems being faced by the newspaper vendors and said they were severely hit by the coronavirus pandemic in the country. He said the government should help the newspaper vendors.

Mr Umar agreed that coronavirus had caused an irreparable damage to the newspaper vendors as well as other segments of society. He said he had asked Information Minister Shibli Faraz to prepare a summary in this regard and as soon as it was ready all possible help would be extended to the newspaper vendors.

Ali Nawaz Awan said the PTI government was with the newspaper vendors in their hour of need and would raise voice for their rights at every forum.

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2020