Sindh Governor Imran Ismail has vowed to request Prime Minister Imran Khan to issue a special grant for the Karachi Press Club (KPC) and provide housing facilities to deserving journalists under the Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme, saying journalists have played an important role in strengthening democracy and institutions in the country.
“I have been apprised by the KPC leadership about the problems and issues being faced by the journalists and I would request PM Imran Khan for a special grant for the press club where I started my struggle for Naya Pakistan. This institution and its members taught me and trained me. I would also request the prime minister for a quota for deserving journalists in the Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme,” he said after inaugurating a free medical camp for journalists at the KPC on Tuesday.
The medical camp was organised by the Health Committee of the KPC in collaboration with Essa Laboratories and the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC), where various types of screenings, including HIV, BMD, RBS, ultrasound, as well as eye, dental and general OPDs were arranged for the KPC members and their family members.
Accompanied by Secretary KPC Arman Sabir, President Imtiaz Khan Faran, Chief Executive Officer Essa Lab Dr Farhan Essa, Vice Chairman CPLC Murad Soni, Secretary KPC Health Committee M. Wear Bhatti and others, the governor visited various stalls and inquired about the health facilities being provided to the journalists.
He further assured the journalists that he would play his role in mediating to resolve a land dispute of journalists, saying he would talk to the corps commander Karachi, the commander Karachi and the chief minister of Sindh for the provision of residential plots which had been allotted to them and they had also paid money for them.
The governor said the current president and the governing body had played a key role in improving the club. “I want to make it the best club in the city where journalists have every facility,” he said. “The press club is like my home and I started my politics here,” he said.
The governor said he would soon bring the issues of land allotted to journalists to the notice of the concerned institution and the chief minister.
Responding to a question about the JUI-F sit-in, Ismail said that the sit-in had reached its final stage and was taking its last breaths.
To another question about the mines and minerals in Tharparkar, he said that there was a large amount of mineral reserves in Thar for which the government of Sindh should take practical steps. International investors were looking to invest in this sector, and the Sindh government should play its role in providing the investors with better facilities, he added.
When asked about other issues, including dog- bites cases, the governor said that the increase in the incidence of dog bites was alarming, and the government along with the relevant NGOs should play its due role in this regard.
“I hope that they will take this responsibility and do something.” Responding to a question about reports of allies considering quitting the PTI coalition, the governor rejected the impression that allies were not with his party.
To a question about Nawaz Sharif going abroad for treatment, he said, “We are respecting the judiciary’s decision and ensuring its implementation.” He said he was saddened that Sharif was going abroad for treatment and expressed the hope that he would return soon because he had to be accountable to the nation.
Answering another question, Imail said the federal government had not given any NRO to anyone. Imtiaz Faran, president of the KPC, informed Governor Ismail about the issues of journalists and urged him to play his role in resolving the matter of the land allotted by the Sindh government in Hawks Bay.
The governor was also requested by KPC Secretary Armaan Sabir and other governing body members to include senior journalists and members of the club in the new Pakistan Housing Scheme.
CEO Essa Laboratories Dr Farhan Essa felicitated the KPC Governing Body and the Health Committee for their efforts for the journalist fraternity and urged the governor to do something for the journalists, who were in trouble and facing retrenchment and pay cuts.