Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani on Wednesday called for rationalising Associated Press of Pakistan Corporation service structure and the salary packages of its staff particularly working on editorial side.
He said this during a visit to APP headquarters here. Information and Broadcasting Secretary Syed Anwar Mahmood was also present on the occasion. The minister said the APP management should work out a strategy to bring the incentives of its employees at par with other news organisations working in public and private sectors.
He said the administration should work out the possibility of regularising its employees, working on contract and daily wages. Durrani also emphasised that the disparity in salary structure of its staff should be removed. The journalists working in the organisation should be encouraged by giving them special incentives, he added.
While appreciating the news coverage of APP, the minister emphasised for steps like broadening of its correspondents' network to district level, news coverage in English, Urdu and regional languages and full-fledged functioning of Electronic News Gathering (ENG) should be taken at the earnest. Referring to ENG service, the minister said: "It could work as pro-active organ of the organisation, equipped with quality professionals meeting the requirements of electronic news channels."
He was of the view that ENG service should be initiated as soon as possible for which Rs 246.838 million has been given, while Rs 40 million has been allocated in the next budget.
Durrani said the government gives priority to credible, authentic and free flow of information and APP has been fulfilling this responsibility earnestly. He also lauded launching of Arabic, Sindhi and other upcoming regional language services. The minister appreciated dissemination of news items and photographs to media outlets in English and Urdu languages.
Earlier, APP Managing Director Rai Riaz Hussain gave a detailed presentation to the minister. He said the main objective of the organisation is to gather fact-based news items from vast sources and disseminate them by adhering to its objectives firmly. He apprised the minister about the working of APP, its set up, and upcoming projects.
About APP ENG service, he said the pilot project as approved in CDWP was working while it would be made fully functional shortly. Durrani also gave away 'Best Journalist of the Month' award for May 2007 to Shafek Koreshe and a cash prize to photographer Irfan Mehmood for winning the best photographer competition of twin cities.