A delegation of senior journalists met with Provincial Information Minister Azma Bukhari today at DGPR in a very pleasant mood.
Azma Bukhari listened to all the submissions of the journalists with open heart and cleared the concerns of the journalists. Clarified and cleared the misunderstandings about the Maskan Ravi project.
It has been decided in a meeting with senior journalists that,
- In Maskan Ravi Scheme, plots will be given not only to journalists but also to all media workers who are employed full-time in media organizations.
- The provincial minister said that Maskan Ravi project will be completed as soon as possible and this project will be completed under RUDA only, PJHF will not have anything to do with this project.
- Azma Bukhari said that a total of 3200 journalists/media workers will be given plots. The plot size has been increased to 5 marla to benefit more media workers.
- The minister of information said that the journalists and media workers of Lahore will be given plots on priority basis. After that, the journalists of other cities will be given plots in Maskan Ravi or in their own districts in the residential schemes.
- The petitioners have filed appeals in Maskan Ravi, decisions will be taken on the basis of their preference and no journalist will be deprived of his right.
- Not the price of the plots given under Maskan Ravi, but they will be given free of charge to all media workers and journalists.
- The information minister said that the reason for the delay in the Maskan Ravi project is nor RUDA or the Punjab government, but a journalist himself. Who has taken a restraining order from the court against this project. However, he has given orders to his staff to take instructions from the High Court to run the case on a daily basis and to issue injunctions. He expressed hope that the journalists and media workers who benefited from Maskan Ravi will appear in the court on the next appearance and support the government in lifting the ban and dismissing the case and raise their voice.
- Azma Bukhari said that the scheme will be re-advertised for journalists and media workers who could not submit applications as soon as the court ban on Maskan Ravi scheme ends. However, the applicants who have already received the information letter do not need to apply again.
- Eligibility of media workers to apply must be ten years employment and one year salary slip. While the educational condition of BA is also being abolished.
- The delegation of Maskan Ravi group who met included Khalid Hasnain, Saber Awan, Kashif Malik, Rab Nawaz Khan, Kashif Selman, Faizan Waraich, Gulzar Mustafai.
- Both sides agreed to continue the meetings and consultation process in the future.
- Only one journalist or media worker from one family will be given a plot. If both husband and wife become media workers, one will get a plot.
- The representative delegation of journalists appreciated the efforts of President Lahore Press Club Arshad Ansari, senior journalists Salman Ghani, Mujibur Rahman Shami and others for the implementation of Maskan Ravi project.
