Sharjeel reiterates PPP’s commitment to support journalists

HYDERABAD: Sindh Senior Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon attended the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected body of the Hyderabad Union of Journalists (HUJ) at the Hyderabad Press Club on Monday.

He administered the oath to the office-bearers, who included President Hamid Sheikh, General Secretary Ali Hamza Zaidi, Senior Vice president Faiz Khoso, Vice president Altaf koti, Senior Joint Secretary Muzaffar Rind, Treasure Danish Nafees and 18 members of executive council.

In his address, Memon congratulated the newly elected members and expressed his happiness that the journalists of Hyderabad consider him a dear friend. He emphasized the Peoples Party’s commitment to supporting journalists, citing the efforts taken for journalists in hard times by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.

He also highlighted the importance of independent journalism, stating that the PPP always believes in giving independent journalism a chance in the country. He criticized the previous governments’ duration and previous time of dictatorship for oppressing journalists, and pointed out that the PPP stayed along independent Journalists in the past. He noted that the PPP remained a democratic party despite facing many unfair media trials.

In addition to discussing journalism, Memon touched on various development projects in Sindh. He mentioned that health is a top priority for the PPP government and that peoples of Sindh and journalists can receive free treatment at state-of-the-art hospitals including NICVD and Civil Hospital. He also announced plans to upgrade the Civil Hospital in Hyderabad and create a mechanism of funding for health insurance for journalists.

The information minister addressed the issue of encroachments on government transport land in Hyderabad, stating that they would be removed. He also announced that the transport department wants to launch EV buses and EV taxis project service in Hyderabad and other cities after its successful run in Karachi.

Regarding the construction of a canal system on the River Indus in Cholistan, Punjab, memon reiterated the government of Sindh and PPP’s clear stance on the issue, emphasizing that there is no scope for robbing Sindh’s water.

He said the Sindh government wrote a letter to call meeting according to the water act of the country. He mentioned that the federal government would soon call a Council of Common Interests (CCI) committee meeting to resolve this issue immediately.

He urged the federal government to work on the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway urgently, citing its importance for improving traffic and avoiding accidents.

He concluded by requesting the prime minister to prioritize completion of the projects of the federal government either in pending and approved in Sindh, specifically coding the construction of the Sukkur-Hyderabad M6 Motorway. He emphasised that the federal government’s slow pace on projects in Sindh is harming not only the people of Sindh but also the entire economy of Pakistan.

The HUJ oath-taking ceremony were attended by Divisional Commissioner Hyderabad Bilal Ahmed Memon, Divisional Director Information Department Irshad Ali Chandio, Deputy Commissioner Hyderabad Zain-ul-Abdin Memon, SSP Hyderabad Dr Farrukh Ali Lanjhar and other officers.