KARACHI, March 5: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has said that the government fully believes in the freedom of press and print and electronic media enjoys full independence.

He, however, stressed that it was responsibility of media people to do correct and impartial reporting and perform their duties with honesty.

The chief minister was speaking at a dinner hosted by him for the delegates and office-bearers of the Pakistan Federation of Unions of Journalists at the CM's House on Friday night. "It is good that journalists bring correct situation before the people," he said, adding that identifying facts would be welcomed.

The present provincial government, Dr Arbab said, had always fully supported journalists' struggles including the ongoing one for the implementation of the 7th Wage Board Award. "We all are with them in this struggle," he declared.

Dr Arbab noted that the Sindh cabinet and assembly, in their respective proceedings, passed resolutions in favour of the journalists' demands.

According to him, the provincial government had also sent a letter to the federal government in this regard.

The dinner was attended by provincial Minister for Irrigation and Power Nadir Akmal Leghari, Minister for Planning Shoaib Ahmed Bukhari, Minister for Information Technology Mustafa Kamal, Adviser on Information Salahuddin Hyder, Information Secretary Mehtab Akbar Rashdi and others.

PFUJ President Ahfazur Rehman and Secretary-General A. R. Shamsi; APNEC Chairman Parvez Shaukat; KUJ President Ayub Jan Sarhandi and more than 100 delegates from across the country were present on the occasion.

The chief minister presented traditional gift of Sindhi caps and ajraks to the guests. The delegates from the NWFP thanked the chief minister for donating Rs50 million for the victims of rains and snowfall in their province. They invited him to visit Peshawar and address the journalist community at a gathering to be organized by the Khyber Union of Journalists. The delegates from Punjab, Balochistan and Abbottabad also thanked him for extending financial help to the people of their respective areas.-APP