LAHORE: Punjab Information Minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan on Friday announced a relief package for the family of the journalists who passed away due to coronavirus.
While addressing a press conference in Lahore, the minister said that the Punjab information ministry will pay Rs. 1 million to the family of the deceased journalist.
Chohan said they will pay Rs10,000 monthly pension for life if any journalist passes away due to coronavirus. He said the provincial government will also pay Rs100,000 to any journalist who contracts COVID-19 while reporting on the situation.
He added the Punjab information ministry will provide masks and protective gear to newspaper hawkers in a bid to protect them from the virus. “The Punjab government will provide masks and protective gear to newspaper sellers. They will be provided with protective kits along with sanitizers and masks,” he said, adding the equipment will be handed over to the union president tomorrow.
Chohan maintained that the Punjab government has decided to give tax exemptions to media houses and clear their pending dues so that they don’t have to face financial losses due to the ongoing coronavirus situation. He hopes that the impact of the tax exemption and payment of dues would also reach media workers.
Chohan also warned about the upcoming days, “People should be cautious and stay at home. We are taking steps to take measures to curb coronavirus spread,” he said.
Chohan earlier lauded the role of media by calling it a key pillar of the state. All the channels and newspapers should be lauded for this brave effort, he added.
Read more: Fayyaz Chohan terms media a key pillar of state
