The minister said that the PPP government since coming to power, had taken several steps to strengthen democratic institutions in the country which had been weakened due to long dictatorial interventions. — File Photo

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan on Monday assured the journalist community that the government would take all possible steps to ensure security for media persons.

Addressing the rally organized by Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalist (RIUJ) in front of the Parliament House, she said that her ministry would take up the issue of the termination (of the services of journalists) with different media organization owners.

Dr. Firdous said that the wage board issue is sub judice and the government would get the court orders implemented.

Earlier the RIUJ President Tahir Rathore, it’s Secretary General Bilal Thahim and President of local chapter of All Paksitan Newspaper Employees Confederation, Qurban Satti, and other leaders addressed the protest rally.

In their speeches they demanded implementation of wage board award, and demanded steps to control incidents of target killings of the journalists. They also demanded that the termination of media persons by different organizations should be stopped and terminated workers should be restored.

The participants were chanting slogans and carrying placards, describing their demands.

Later, she was talking to a German media delegation, which met here. The minister said that the people's government was fully committed to provide all possible facilities to both local and international media in performance of their professional duties.

Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said that Pakistan was keen to further enhance its relations with Germany. There was a lot of scope for increase in cooperation between the two countries in media sector.

She stressed the need for strengthening bilateral relations. She suggested that people-to-people contacts between the two countries should also be improved.

The minister said that the PPP government since coming to power, had taken several steps to strengthen democratic institutions in the country which had been weakened due to long dictatorial interventions.

The members of German delegation lauded the government efforts for promotion of media in Pakistan.