PML-N concerned at high incidence of virus in media houses

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) Secretary Information Marriyum Aurangzab has expressed gave concern at high incidence of coronavirus in media houses.

In a statement issued on Monday, she demanded the government take immediate and concrete measures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all journalists.

She said that provision of protective gear [personal protective equipment] to journalists must be a top priority of the government. She expressed disappointment over the government inability to announce interest-free loans for the media industry so that the workers’ salaries could be paid on time. The government has also not provided any relief package for journalists, she added. The former information minister also extended her condolences over the death of former APP employee Rashid Bhatti from coronavirus. She said it should set alarm bells ringing in all government ranks.

She urged Imran Khan to focus his mind and energies on the raging pandemic in the country instead of pursuing his petty, vengeful political agenda.

She said instead of ranting all day and night against Shahbaz Sharif, he must get worried over the fact that doctors and journalists were dying across the country because the government had failed to protect them with appropriate gear. Marriyum said it was not time for politics but to do anything and everything to save lives and livelihoods of people of Pakistan. But sadly, she said, the government had been obsessed with petty politics even at this crucial time of history.