ON THE SPECIAL DIRECTION OF CM PUNJAB, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY A SPECIAL GRANT WORTH RS. 9 CRORE 45 LAKHS HAS BEEN DISBURSED

On the special direction of Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi, a special grant to the 44 press clubs across Punjab for the first time in the history has been disbursed. A special ceremony was held at the CM Office to award special grant cheques among the Presidents and General Secretaries of the Press Clubs across Punjab. Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi, Federal Minister for Information Murtaza Solangi and Provincial Minister for Information Amir Mir awarded special grant cheques to the Press Club Presidents of tehsils, districts and divisions across Punjab. The presidents of 44 press clubs were granted cheques worth Rs. 9 crore 45 lakhs on the whole. Presidents of Multan, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal press clubs and presidents of different districts and tehsils press clubs including Jhang and Khanewal were also granted cheques.

Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi while addressing the cheque distribution ceremony stated “we came for few months but one year has passed approximately. It is my utmost strive to do something substantial for the professional journalists. This is a special grant which we have awarded to the press clubs.” Mohsin Naqvi stated that as the Lahore Press Club is located in Lahore, it was supported earlier and will be supported in future as well but other press clubs used to be ignored. For the first time, small press clubs have been awarded this grant. “I wish that this grant being awarded to the press clubs should be converted into an annual grant so that the press clubs can receive this grant permanently.” CM underscored that journalism is the name of responsibility and honesty. “I deem in the capacity of a journalist that a lot of responsibilities rest on us. I am journalist and now Chief Minister as well. I realise that we commit a lot of mistakes at many points. When I will quit from this post then I will share it as where we commit mistakes. The majority of journalists are responsible and dutiful.

I take pride that I belong to such a journalist community who rendered invaluable services for the country.” Mohsin Naqvi stated that when he assumed the office of CM then many people criticised him for being a journalist and how come he can deliver. We strived to our utmost and the whole team worked day and night to accomplish the targets. “I got an excellent team, had I been alone then I would never have delivered anything. The whole team made best efforts and gave fruitful results as well.” Mohsin Naqvi stated that he is grateful to the Federal Minister Murtaza Solangi for coming in this ceremony. It was our collective duty to award grants to the small press clubs which we have duly fulfilled. The journalists community should spend on the information technology out of the grant being awarded to the press clubs. There was once an era of newspapers but with the passage of time the graph of newspapers started coming down and the television replaced it.

Now TV is coming to an end and digital media is replacing it. You all have to receive training with regard to the digital media. Mohsin Naqvi proposed that the journalists should utilize this grant for the social and digital media platforms and their benefit advantage rests in it. Newspapers had their own market which has reduced. Similarly, the market of TV has to also come down and digital media graph has to come up. This is a reality and we cannot turn a blind eye to it. If somebody from us denies it then it will be entirely wrong. The journalists community have to prepare themselves according to the future needs and requirements. One who does not change with time then this time is highly cruel and will leave him behind. Mohsin Naqvi underscored that the journalist community has to focus their attention to work with the digital media. If the journalists learn this skill then they will be greatly benefitted in future. The journalists will have to attain skills in the digital media. CM stated that journey in the right direction is only possible by rectifying our mistakes. As a journalist we should not hurt anyone’s respect. The press clubs should arrange digital media training and establish a studio from the grant being awarded to them. Studios should also be established in the regional press clubs for holding talk shows and vlogs.

The correct usage of official grant is to impart training to the social and digital media. There is a dire need to arrange training courses at the official level also in order to elevate the quality of journalism. We have lagged behind in many journalistic affairs. We will have to adopt the practices of the latest period to compete at the global level. Mohsin Naqvi stated that awarding a grant to a press clubs is not a favour on anyone as grants are awarded to the press clubs across the globe. I propose that the press clubs should adopt a financial model so as to enhance their revenue. We have not put politics in journalism and have adopted a uniform policy for the professional journalists. Provincial Minister for Information Amir Mir stated that providing assistance to their journalist brothers is our duty. The regional press clubs should be developed on the modern lines. Federal Minister for Information Murtaza Solangi said that he deems Mohsin Naqvi as the second Sher Shah Suri of Punjab. It is heartening to know that a handsome amount worth Rs. 9 crore 45 lakhs has been distributed among the press clubs across Punjab without any discrimination. Mohsin Naqvi not only cared for the roads and hospitals but for the journalists as well. Mohsin Naqvi is working diligently day in and day out to provide maximum relief to the people of Punjab. Secretary Finance, Secretary Information, DGPR, Director News, DDPI and other officials were also present on the occasion.