LAHORE, Oct 26: Federal Labour, Manpower and Local Government Minister Omar Asghar Khan said on Friday that the government was keen on upholding the cause of journalists and was ready to discuss any issue with the owners of newspapers on wage award.

When approached by the APP for his comments on an All Pakistan Newspapers Society appeal to reverse the Seventh Newspapers Employees Wage Award, the minister said the government was ready to initiate dialogue over the matter.

The minister was present at the Lahore airport to see off the Turkish president when he left for Ankara at the end of his two-day visit to Pakistan. Omar Asghar was the minister-in-waiting to the Turkish president.

Mr Khan said the government supported the press freedom which had a great role as the standard bearer of free flow of information. He said the wage award was announced keeping in view economic difficulties being faced by the members of the print media but if the APNS had any reservations, the government would not shy from holding dialogue with it in this regard.—APP