Peshawar:
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cabinet has approved a special grant of Rs 150 million for the Peshawar Press Club. The cabinet also approved a summary to increase the Journalists Welfare Endowment Fund from Rs 200 million to Rs 500 million.
Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sardar Sohail Afridi, had earlier announced, on the occasion of the oath-taking ceremony of the Peshawar Press Club, a one-time special grant of Rs 150 million for the Press Club, along with other measures. He had also announced an increase in the seed money of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Journalists Welfare Endowment Fund from Rs 200 million to Rs 500 million for the welfare of working journalists.
Although the provincial cabinet meeting was scheduled for Friday, April 24, the approval of the special grant and the increase in the endowment fund were not included in the meeting agenda until Thursday. However, on the request of Peshawar Press Club President M. Riaz, Chief Minister Khayber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi directed that the matter be included in the additional agenda for the cabinet meeting held on Friday, April 24. Subsequently, summaries for the release of the special grant and the enhancement of the fund were prepared and presented for approval in the 51st meeting of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cabinet, chaired by the Chief Minister. The cabinet approved both proposals.
On behalf of the journalist community, President of the Peshawar Press Club, M. Riaz, expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, stating that by securing cabinet approval for the special grant and the increase in the endowment fund, the Chief Minister has fulfilled yet another promise made to journalists. He added that the Chief Minister’s efforts for the welfare of journalists in the province are highly commendable.
M. Riaz also thanked the Chief Minister’s Special Assistant for Information and Public Relations, Shafi Jan, Advisor on Finance Muzammil Aslam, Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Syed Shahab Ali Shah, Secretary Information and Public Relations, Matiullah Khan; and Finance Secretary, Captain (Retd.) Kamran Ahmed Afridi for their role in this regard.
