KARACHI, Dec 30: Sindh Chief Secretary K.B. Rind approved on Monday a plan for the development of journalists colony in the Hawkesbay scheme after consultation with the officials concerned and the representatives of journalists.

Under this programme, the development charges would be obtained from the Sindh government in three phases.

According to the programme worked out, the DCO of Karachi will submit a summary to the Sindh chief minister regarding the development of journalists colony so that the development plan could be executed in three phases, each phase costing Rs60 million.

The DCO said the journalists housing scheme was0 part of the Lyari Development Project. He said all encroachments had been removed from the scheme and now all possible measures would be taken for its development.

The meeting also considered the handing over of an alternative building for the existing building of Karachi Press Club to the person concerned. The KPC president gave details of this plan.

The chief secretary endorsed the decision, under which the DCO will coordinate with the home secretary, the DG of rangers, the registrar of the anti-terrorism courts and the secretary for law for handing over the possession of the alternate building situated on Maulvi Tamizuddin Khan Road.

The meeting also discussed the report of the provincial information secretary about the rehabilitation of journalists and providing them with insurance cover.

The journalists attending the meeting decided that this report should be first circulated to all the press clubs in the province and a line of action be devised in the light of the proposals received from these press clubs.

The KPC president suggested that the information department also focus on issues related to the implementation of wage board award, labour laws and group insurance in the newspapers.

The meeting was attended, among others, by the additional chief secretary for finance; the member, land utilization; the secretaries for education and information, and the president and office-bearers of the KPC.—APP/PPI