President felicitates journalists on vindication of their stand on the Wage Board

Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari has felicitated the journalist community on winning court battle in the case of the 7th Wage Board Award for journalists and related issues.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed appeals and upheld the Sindh High Court’s ruling in the case.

The President expressed the hope that the wage board award will now be implemented in letter and spirit.

The President said that the Newspaper Employees (condition of service) Act 1973 was enacted by the PPP government to safeguard the economic rights to enable them work independently without fear of being subjected to economic coercion. The journalists community have every reason to feel proud that their long drawn struggle for economic rights has moved a step forward, he said.

It may be recalled that the Newspaper Employee Act broadened the definition of a whole time journalist by including in it the supporting staff and other employees whose contributions were earlier ignored in the drawing up of compensation packages.

The President, on this occasion, also reiterated Government’s resolve to extend all possible facilitation to the journalist community in their professional pursuits.

For more information, contact:
Haji Ahmed Malik
Principal Information Officer
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +9251 925 2323 and +9251 925 2324
Fax: +9251 925 2325 and +9251 925 2326
Email: piopid@gmail.com