The committee which met here on Friday with MNA Pir Muhammad Aslam Bodla in the chair was briefed about the progress on the bill by the Information and Broadcasting Division's director general (IP). It was apprised that the private members bills moved by MNA Sahibzada Tariq Ullah and Senator Professor Ghafoor Ahmad relating to protection and welfare of journalists were clubbed together and the process of consultation was carried out with the media organisations, civil society, media houses and other stakeholders and their input has been incorporated therein to bring a comprehensive legislative proposal that would ensure welfare and protection of the media workers.
He assured the committee that the Information Division would complete the process and present the draft legislative proposal within the given timeframe. The chairman asked the members of the committee to give their input, if any, to the Division so that it could be incorporated in the proposed bill.
Later, the chairman of Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) briefed the committee about working and scope of the academy's activities. He said that the PAL is working aggressively in accordance with its mandate for promoting literature and literary activities in the country, besides taking care of writers' welfare. He briefed the committee about the PAL's publications and criteria adopted for selection of publication of writers' literary works.
He also informed the committee that the PAL has established its Bureau of Translation with its indigenous resources for translation of literary works in national and regional languages. He apprised about the PAL's literary activities and the measures taken by it for the welfare of writers during last three years. The committee appreciated the performance of PAL and extended its full co-operation for achieving its objectives. The committee opined that PAL could play a vital role in making a peaceful society. The committee later visited the PAL Library and Writers' House.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017