Media is vanguard in fight against coronavirus: Awan

ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to PM on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said Wednesday public did not wish politicians to do politics at this critical juncture, as with unity, the coronavirus pandemic could be defeated.

Dr Firdous said “Key responsibility rested with the media to avoid creating panic on the current situation and emphasised that success stories of those recovering from the pandemic, should also been given coverage to offset the environment of fear and panic.” She reiterated that this virus could be defeated through unity and collective efforts.

She said that the prime minister during the cabinet meeting had taken strict notice of reports wherein patients, who were tested positive for the virus, were treated like criminals or untouchables and insisted that their fundamental human rights must be respected.

During a video conference with the provincial information ministers in relation to the virus, she said the journalists were playing a vanguard role in the fight against the coronavirus and measures were being taken to ensure their safety and health. She again said that personal protection kits would be provided to the journalists covering vulnerable areas including the ICU and quarantine centres.

Moreover, she added that the COVID-19 Care for Media App was also being launched to help those journalists affected by the virus. She revealed that newspapers hawkers would also be registered in the Ehsaas Emergency cash programme, as their sales had also been affected due to the outbreak of coronavirus.

She urged the provincial governments to clear on war footing the pending payments of the media houses and emphasised that all the provinces should make payments to the media houses as early as possible and this should be linked to payment of salaries to their workers. “We have to be mindful about the media workers while the prime minister has given deadline with regards to clearance of pending payments to the media and I am quite hopeful that the chief ministers will take measures early,” she said.

AJK Information Minister Mushtaq Minhas said that the impact of payments of the media dues should reach to lower level. On the virus, he said that the entertainment channels should also create vital awareness about the pandemic.

KP’s representative Ajmal Wazir called for early provision of protection kits for media persons and said they were devising a mechanism on provision of kits to journalists and media workers. He added lists of pending dues had been sought from media houses in the province.