PM launches health cards initiative for journalists, artists
Last updated on: 08 August,2023 03:42 pm
Media workers, artists will be able to get health facilities free of cost in 1,200 hospitals
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday launched the prime minister’s health programme for journalists, media workers, artists and technical resources; and Pakistan code, digital repository of federal laws mobile app and webiste.
Under the health insurance card programme, journalists, media workers, artists and technical resources will be able to get world-class health facilities free of charge in 1,200 hospitals across the country with annual corporate health insurance worth Rs1.5 million.
Likewise, with the Pakistan Code website and mobile app, judges, lawyers, legal experts, law students, government officials, and general public will be easily able to access all types of federal laws.
The prime minister on the occasion distributed health cards among prominent journalists including Afzal Butt and Nawaz Raza.
Addressing the ceremony, PM Shehbaz said for the first time in the history of the country, the government had launched such a facility for the journalists and media workers who work in difficult situations.
He congratulated Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb and her team for their work to finalise this programme. He also felicitated Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazir Tarrar for his efforts in launching the mobile app and website.
Shehbaz also announced establishment of special fund under which Rs4 million compensation amount would be paid to the families of the journalists and media workers who die in line with their duties. He said this amount would be increased gradually.
The prime minister said ever since he took over the charge in April 2022, he faced immense criticism from the journalists. However, he did not complain of any such criticism as he believed in freedom of media. He said the criticism should be constructive and based on facts.