PM Shehbaz announces establishment of a special fund under which journalists losing their lives during the line of duty will each be paid Rs 4 miln

ISLAMABAD, August 08 (SABAH): Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif launched health insurance card scheme for working journalists and artists in Islamabad on Tuesday.

Under the health insurance scheme, the media workers and artists will be able to get world class health facilities free of charge in 1200 hospitals across the country with annual corporate health insurance worth 1.5 million rupees.

Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif termed the insurance scheme as a revolutionary initiative in the field of journalism.  He said it is the first time that a health insurance scheme has been initiated for the working journalists and the artists.

The Prime Minister also announced the establishment of a special fund under which the journalists losing their lives during the line of duty will each be paid Rs 4 million. He said a decision to this effect was taken after consultations with the Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb. He said it is just the beginning and the amount will be further enhanced with increase in the resources.

The Prime Minister said that he has never complained against any media criticism directed towards him. He however stressed that criticism is beneficial when it is based on facts.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said the launch of health insurance scheme for the working journalists and artists is realization of the vision of the Prime Minister.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif launched Pakistan code website (www.Pakistancode.gov.pk) and Mobile App (Digital Repository of Federal Laws). The Prime Minister lauded the efforts of Federal Minister for Law and Justice Senator Azam Nazir Tarar, Parliamentary Secretary Mehnaz Akbar Aziz, and Secretary Law Raja Naeem Akbar for such an extraordinary work on the website and Mobile App.

Key purpose of Pakistan Code website is to make the Federal Laws accessible to the general public, Judges, Lawyers, Litigants, Law students and Researchers, anywhere, anytime via medium of their choice. It is an exclusive portal for access to digitized and updated Federal Laws. At present, the website contains 943 Federal Laws starting from 1839 to date. The App contains QR Code for prompt traceability of Federal Laws. It has Water Marking of proofread and reviewed laws as well. Cyber security measures have also been taken in accordance with the Cyber Security directions of NTISB to prevent cyber-attacks.

In conclusion the Prime Minister said that the launch of Pakistan code App is an historic moment paving way for digitization of laws in Pakistan.