Information and Broadcasting Minister Senator Pervaiz Rashid earlier today said that safety and security of journalists was the top priority of the government.
The minister was chairing the 3rd meeting of the ministerial committee constituted by the Prime Minister to address security related issues of the media houses.
He said the present government was determined to resolve all problems of working journalists including any threat to their life and property.
He said the government considers media as an important instrument for strengthening democracy and would continue to facilitate it in performance of their professional obligations.
The minister directed the officials concerned to invite the home and information secretaries from all the provinces to attend next meeting and brief the committee on their respective implementation status.
The minister further directed Additional Inspector General (Operations) Islamabad Police for undertaking another security audit of the media houses and point out the deficiencies in connection with the internal security arrangements taken by the media houses themselves.
The minister also directed Principal Information Officer of Press Information Department to make arrangements for holding workshop in coordination with National Press Club Islamabad, media representative bodies and Islamabad Capital Territory police to sensitize and train the media workers regarding various security measures and safety techniques to be adopted by the media in face of any threat.
The minister did not mention if any media persons will be issued firearms licenses for personal protection.
