ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Digital Media Journalists Association has strongly reacted to the government’s decision to reduce the railway fare discount for journalists.

It has argued that if the other three pillars of the state continue to enjoy subsidised travel, it will be unjust to deprive journalists of the facility.

The current 80pc discount has been cut to 50pc, and travel has been restricted to only 10 trips per year, creating unrest among journalists from all over the country.

In a joint statement, the association’s leadership including Founding Chairman Khalid Nawaz Sadhraich, President Shaukat Rehman Malik, Nisar Choudhary, Secretary General Taj Mohammad Jan, Iqbal Awan, Syed Asif Ali Shah, Naseem Hassan Awan and others demanded that the government maintain the original subsidised travel facilities.

“Journalism is the fourth pillar of the state and that journalists frequently travel between cities to perform their professional duties. Previously, affordable railway fares provided significant financial relief, but the recent reduction has imposed a heavy financial burden, causing widespread anxiety within the journalistic community,” they emphasised.

The association has called for immediate restoration of the full discount and demanded that the 80pc fare concession also be extended to private trains. Furthermore, they demanded that subsidised travel facilities be ensured for the spouses and children of journalists.

Khalid Nawaz Sadhraich and Shaukat Malik argued that if the other three pillars of the state continue to enjoy subsidised travel, it was unjust to deprive journalists of these essential facilities.

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2026