The federal government has established a commission for the protection of journalists and media professionals to safeguard their rights and security.
In this regard, the Ministry of Information has also issued an official notification for the commission’s formation.
The 12-member commission includes the public information officer of the Ministry of Information, the director general of the Ministry of Human Rights, and the secretary of the Press Regulatory Authority.
Representatives from the National Press Club, both factions of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), and other national and provincial press unions are also part of the commission.
The commission will monitor and oversee measures related to journalists’ rights, safety, and protection across the country, and will soon begin exercising its responsibilities. Its establishment has been enacted under the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act, 2021.
In July, the Senate unanimously approved the Journalist Protection Amendment Bill during a session chaired by Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani, in a landmark move to safeguard press freedom and the rights of media professionals.
The bill, hailed as a significant step toward ensuring the safety and independence of journalists, provides comprehensive legal protections to journalists and their families, including the right to confidentiality, protection from violence, and legal recourse through special courts.
