By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar inaugurated the new website of the National Press Club (NPC), Islamabad, and announced that a state-of-the-art Digital Lab would be established at the club within the next two months to strengthen digital journalism and professional training for media personnel.
During the ceremony, the National Press Club President Abdul Razaq Sial and Secretary Dr. Furqan Rao announced the conferment of honorary membership upon the federal minister. NPC Secretary Dr. Furqan Rao also gave a detailed briefing on the newly launched website and its digital features.
Addressing the gathering, Tarar congratulated the National Press Club on the successful launch of its website, describing it as a significant step toward improving transparency, record management, and administrative efficiency.
transformation has become essential for modern institutions and stressed the need to equip journalists with skills in artificial intelligence (AI), digital media, and emerging technologies. He announced government support for advanced digital training programs and said efforts would be made to establish partnerships with reputable educational institutions to enhance journalists’ professional capabilities.
Tarar reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing challenges facing the media industry, including job security, timely payment of salaries and outstanding dues, journalists’ housing, restoration of health card facilities, and welfare initiatives. He said discussions were underway to develop a comprehensive policy to protect journalists and media workers in the event of layoffs, urging media owners, journalist organizations, and relevant stakeholders to jointly formulate a sustainable framework for employment security.
He reiterated that a free and vibrant media is a cornerstone of any democratic society and assured the journalist community that the government would continue working to resolve their concerns. He also termed the demand for restoring the journalists’ housing quota as legitimate and pledged to take up the matter with the relevant authorities.
Calling the Islamabad National Press Club the country’s premier platform for journalists, Tarar said its development, financial stability, and modernization remained among the government’s priorities.
Earlier, National Press Club President Abdul Razaq Sial welcomed the minister and highlighted long-standing issues faced by journalists, including housing quotas, health cards, outstanding dues, financial support for the Press Club, and other welfare concerns. He urged the government to take immediate and practical steps to address these issues.
NPC Secretary Dr. Furqan Rao described the new website and digitization of members’ records as a major institutional milestone.
Finance Secretary Abid Abbasi also addressed the ceremony, highlighting the financial challenges confronting Pakistan’s media industry and emphasizing the need for stronger financial assistance, special grants, timely salary payments, and improved job security for journalists.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Attaullah Tarar was presented with the National Press Club’s Honorary Membership Certificate.
The event was attended by Principal Information Officer Raisa Adil, Senior Vice President Ehtesham-ul-Haq, Vice President Bashir Chaudhry, Joint Secretary Chaudhry Javed Bhagat, Syed Aoun Shirazi, Shakeela Jaleel, Governing Body members Ayesha Naz and Mudassar Langah, senior journalists Haji Muhammad Nawaz Raza, Shakeel Qarar, Shehryar Khan, Tariq Mahmood Sameer, Dr. Saadia Kamal, media workers, and a large number of National Press Club members.
