BY: Hurish Shah:
ISLAMABAD– Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has said that embracing digitalisation is an important step and the need of the future, adding that the launch of the National Press Club’s website and the digitisation of its records reflect the Club’s vision of reform and innovation.
Addressing the launch ceremony of the National Press Club’s website on Monday, the minister appreciated the Club’s initiative and stressed the importance of adopting modern digital technologies. The event was attended by Principal Information Officer Raisa Adil, senior journalist Haji Nawaz Raza, National Press Club President Abdul Razzaq Sial, Secretary Dr. Furqan Rao, and a large number of journalists.
Attaullah Tarar praised Principal Information Officer Raisa Adil for the excellent media arrangements during the Islamabad Talks, saying the event received international recognition and projected a positive image of Pakistan.
The minister said the government has not suspended advertisements for any television channel or newspaper during its tenure and is working on a new policy to address the financial challenges facing media organisations and strengthen the media industry.
Highlighting the importance of digital transformation, he directed that a Digital Lab be established at the National Press Club and a dedicated hall be allocated for the facility. He noted that the Ministry of Information has already set up a Digital Communication Department with a modern Digital Lab and podcast studio, enabling journalists and content creators to produce digital content.
He said the government is committed to ensuring the timely payment of media dues and has obtained assurances from media organisations that employees’ salaries will be prioritised whenever payments are released.
The minister emphasised that while digital media continues to grow rapidly, print and electronic media remain highly relevant, as much of the content circulated on social media originates from newspapers and television channels.
Attaullah Tarar also stressed the need to improve the welfare of journalists, calling for a comprehensive support mechanism for the families of journalists who lose their lives while performing their professional duties. He also directed officials to take steps to provide health card facilities for journalists.
Emphasising the importance of digital skills, the minister announced that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, in collaboration with Quaid-i-Azam University, NUST, COMSATS, and NUML University, will organise short training courses in digital content creation and digital marketing for information officers and nominated journalists. He said the ministry will bear the cost of these training programmes.
