Information Minister Attaullah Tarar urges the Pakistan Broadcasters Association to establish a formal welfare fund and financial compensation system for journalists who die while performing their duties.
Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has urged the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) to establish a comprehensive welfare system for journalists, highlighting the absence of dedicated financial support for media workers and compensation for those who lose their lives while performing their duties.
In a response to a post by Abid Abbasi on social media platform X, Tarar pointed out that television channels receive government advertisements, generate revenue through private-sector advertising and earn additional income from digital platforms. Despite these multiple revenue streams, he said, no dedicated fund had been established for journalists’ welfare.
The minister also highlighted the absence of a compensation package for journalists who die while performing their professional duties.
“TV channels receive government advertisements, the private sector also provides advertisements, and there are separate earnings through digital platforms. Despite this, neither could a fund be established for journalists’ welfare nor could a package be prepared for deaths during duty,” Tarar said in his post.
He called on the PBA to develop a formal mechanism to address these longstanding concerns and ensure financial protection for journalists and their families.
“Now this will no longer work,” the minister added, stressing the need for a structured approach to journalists’ welfare.
Tarar’s statement brings attention to the financial security of media professionals, particularly those working in demanding assignments where journalists may face professional risks while carrying out their responsibilities.
A dedicated welfare fund could provide financial assistance to journalists in need, while a compensation framework for deaths during duty could offer support to the families of media workers who lose their lives in the line of duty.
However, the minister’s post did not outline specific funding arrangements, eligibility criteria, proposed compensation amounts or a timeline for introducing such a system.
His remarks place responsibility on the broadcasting industry, particularly the PBA, to develop a mechanism that translates media organisations’ revenue streams into structured welfare support for journalists.
The proposal also raises broader questions about institutional responsibility toward media workers and the need for sustainable financial protection within Pakistan’s media industry.
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