Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah pledged to resolve press club issues and promised to return in a month with updates.
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KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, accompanied by key cabinet members, visited the Karachi Press Club (KPC) on Wednesday. The delegation included Provincial Ministers Sharjeel Inam Memon, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Saeed Ghani, Special Assistant Waqar Mehdi, and Secretary Information Nadeem-ur-Rehman Memon. They were warmly received by KPC President Saeed Sarbazi, Secretary Shoaib Ahmed, and other key officials of the press club.
During the visit, the Chief Minister and his team were praised for their continued support of the press club. KPC President Saeed Sarbazi expressed special thanks to Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, and Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon for their pivotal role in increasing the grant for the Karachi Press Club to Rs. 70 million. Sarbazi emphasized that this grant increase, along with the special relationship between the Sindh government and the press club, is helping resolve long-standing issues faced by journalists.
In his speech, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah acknowledged the historic significance of the Karachi Press Club, highlighting its role as a beacon of free press since the days of Quaid-e-Awam Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto, who both launched their struggles against dictatorship from the same venue. He reaffirmed that the media is the “fourth pillar” of the state and urged journalists to maintain high standards of reporting.
KPC Secretary Shoaib Ahmed provided a detailed briefing to the Chief Minister, outlining the current challenges faced by the press club members. These issues included the allotment of plots for 700 new KPC members in Lyari Development Authority (LDA), the implementation of a payment formula for 338 plots under the Malir Development Authority (MDA), and the construction of a boundary wall for the Journalist Colony in Hawksbay. He also highlighted the need for development projects to be included in the Annual Development Plan (ADP) scheme, as well as the lease of the Karachi Press Club and its second-phase solar system project.
In response, the Chief Minister assured that his administration is actively working to resolve these matters. He also stressed the importance of responsible journalism in the digital age, stating, “Journalism now exists in every mobile, but the misuse of this responsibility can cause serious harm.”
Syed Murad Ali Shah committed to visiting the Karachi Press Club again in early November to report on the progress of these issues. He expressed his government’s dedication to addressing the problems faced by the KPC and its members, reinforcing the importance of press freedom and the vital role of journalists in democracy.
The visit marked a positive step toward strengthening the relationship between the Sindh government and the journalistic community, with hopes for the prompt resolution of long-standing concerns.