G-B govt to issue accreditation cards to journalists

Gilgit: Special Assistant to Chief Minister (SACM) on Information Eman Shah announced on Monday that the Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Information Department will soon launch a media accreditation process.

Speaking to the media after inaugurating the central office of the Gilgit Union of Journalists, Shah said that the accreditation process would be completed by the third week of January next year.

The accreditation process will involve setting specific criteria to evaluate the qualifications of journalists. “This will help us identify who is a journalist,” Shah said, adding that those who meet the criteria will receive journalist accreditation cards. “The purpose of this initiative is to formalize and recognize the role of journalists in the region.”

Shah also said that a G-B-wide convention of journalists would be held after the completion of the accreditation process. G-B Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan will distribute the accreditation cards to the journalists at the event, he said. Shah further said that various facilities would be provided through these accreditation cards. “The chief minister will also announce several programmes for the welfare of media persons,” he added.

Shah highlighted the steps taken by the G-B government in the past three years to strengthen the media industry in the region. “Strengthening the media industry has a direct positive impact on the working journalists,” he said. He mentioned that one of the key measures taken by the G-B government was to streamline the payments for advertisements in newspapers, ensuring more stable financial support for media outlets.

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The SACM on information appreciated the professionalism of journalists in the region despite the challenges they face. He assured that the Information Department was working actively for the betterment of journalists, and that advertisements for journalist accreditation would be published in newspapers in the coming days, which would address their concerns significantly.

Earlier, the new office of the Gilgit Union of Journalists was officially inaugurated by G-B Assembly Speaker Nazir Ahmed.

The G-B speaker praised the vital role of journalism in society, and said that journalism was a pivotal sector that required dedication and commitment. He said, “Journalism is the fourth pillar of the state, playing an indispensable role in highlighting societal issues and contributing to their solutions.” He announced that legislative measures would be taken to protect the rights of journalists in G-B.

Gilgit Union of Journalists President Zohaib Akhtar briefed the attendees about the union’s objectives and progress. He said that the union represented journalists working to resolve their issues and improve their professional activities. The event was attended by a large number of print and electronic media journalists.