18th Amendment: Draft law on media, journalism soon: minister

LAHORE: Punjab Information Minister Syed Samsam Bukhari has said the government is formulating a draft law on the media and journalism in the light of the 18th Amendment.

While talking to the media at a luncheon, given in their honour here on Tuesday, he said the government would take all stakeholders on board including the media houses owners, various organisations concerned and the media industry workers before finalising any policy. “The government will not make any legislation that can affect journalists adversely,” he assured.

He lamented that the media was going through a crisis ever since the new government has taken over; terming it unfortunate that employees’ salaries were being slashed and several workers had been laid off. He said the media played the role of a bridge between the government and masses, adding that the government would fully support the media workers as well as an independent media.

Secretary Information Agha Momin said on the occasion that the government policy towards media was conciliatory and friendly, which would be further improved to strengthen relationship between the government and the media.

Director General Public Relations Amjad Bhatti said the changes in the media regulations were necessitated under the 18th Amendment, which envisaged devolution of certain matters from federal government to the provinces.