04 Feb, 2010
PFUJ concerned over hike in POL prices
Posted by: admin In: Articles|Media Release|Uncategorized
PFUJ concerned over hike in POL prices
ISLAMABAD, Feb 3: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has expressed concern over nine per cent increase in prices of petroleum products and termed it a major blow to people of the country.
It pointed out that media persons are among the most neglected sections of society, are already under serious economic stress.
It pointed out that media persons are among the most neglected sections of society, are already under serious economic stress.
The increase in petroleum prices would complicate things for them and would push them to wall, as owners are even not ready to consider them as human beings.
Elaborating, the PFUJ said that the media persons wages were fixed on July 1, 1996, at minimum level, and during the last 14 years prices of the petroleum products, gas, power have gone up from 200 to 300 per cent.
Likewise, atta, sugar, pulses, and other daily items prices have witnessed an unprecedented increase.
The media owners, taking full advantages of all such increases have always cunningly shifted the burden of the price spiral to advertisers, readers, viewers, besides taking concessions and facilities worth billions of rupees in the aftermath of every budget.
The PFUJ regretted that although state is responsible for ensuring equal rights and even-handed treatment to every one, unfortunately it has failed to discharges its constitutional duties as media workers were not provided any relief despite the fact that it was fully aware of their miserable plight.
The state also enhanced salaries of government and semi-government employees and even those working in the private sector on a number of occasions during the last 14 years, besides extending dearness allowances. But only media persons were not being considered for such enhancements, the PFUJ asserted.
The PFUJ pointed out that step-motherly treatment was extended to media persons during dictorial era, but the present democratic government is fully aware of the ground realities, as well as atrocities of the media owners, therefore, the people’s government should as per its excellent track of protecting rights of the down- trodden should come forward and ensure economic justice to media persons too.
Shamsul Islam Naz
Secretary General
PAKISTAN FEDERAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS
12-Nazimuddin Road, F-6/1
Islamabad, Pakistan
Phone Office +92(0)51 2870220-1
Facsimile +92(0)51 2870223
Cellular +92(0)300 8665523
http://www.shamsulislamnaz.com
http://www.pfuj.pk
