[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will start a health insurance programme designed exclusively for journalists on August 7. On Monday, Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb announced the news.
Journalists can easily register for this programme by filling out the form available on the Press Information Department website. According to Minister Aurangzeb, the registration process has been designed to be digital in order to ensure openness.
The government has earmarked Rs. 1 billion from the federal budget for this programme.
Also Read: Health Alert: 16 times deadlier virus than COVID detected
The minister acknowledged the long-standing challenges of health insurance and journalist pay and praised the government’s proactive attempts to resolve these concerns. Notably, the Independent Tribunal for Newspaper Employees recovered an astonishing Rs. 110 million, with direct payments paid to print media employees.
This health insurance programme covers all journalists and media workers, regardless of their participation in press clubs.
Minister Aurangzeb underlined that the Journalists’ Health Insurance Programme is distinct from the existing PM’s Health Card programme, assuring that journalists who are already covered by the latter will be ineligible for the former.
In response to worries about media limitations, the minister stated that the current government has not taken any punitive actions against journalists who have criticised the government’s decisions and performance.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
