KARACHI: Like previous years, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has been awarded the project titled “Provincial Research and Lobbying Project – Phase II” by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).
This project aims to promote labor rights, gender equality, and freedom of association in Pakistan’s media, and is funded by the National Endowment for Democracy. PFUJ, an affiliate of the IFJ, has been working closely with them to improve working conditions for journalists in Pakistan. This is the second phase of the project.
During a Zoom meeting on July 29, 2024, for project implementation, Jane Worthington, the Asia-Pacific Regional Director of IFJ, expressed her full confidence in the PFUJ team. She praised their work on the first phase of the project, which was a pilot in Sindh.
“It was a brilliant project led by the President of PFUJ, G M Jamali, and Vice President, Sheher Bano. I expect the same level of success in Phase II. After seeing its success in Sindh, we have expanded the project, and now Punjab will begin its first phase, following the same approach used in Sindh,” Jane added.
In the first phase, the PFUJ conducted a comprehensive survey on the working conditions of journalists in seven districts of Sindh. A formal report was compiled, which highlighted issues such as delayed and inadequate salary payments, lack of medical facilities, insufficient washroom and transportation facilities for women, and the absence of financial assistance for journalists in rural Sindh.
“PFUJ is committed to the well-being of journalists. Despite limited funding, we put forth our best efforts to carry out this project effectively,” said Jamali during the meeting.
“We exceeded the project’s scope by including more journalists in the survey and involving all stakeholders to gather their input. I look forward to another exciting phase in Sindh, which will benefit our media community,” added Sheher Bano, the project coordinator.
In Phase II, the focus will be on holding group discussions with journalists to identify the key challenges they face and gather recommendations on how these issues can be resolved. Later in the project, stakeholders, including representatives from CBAs, UJs, and the labor, law, and information departments, will be involved to discuss how their support can improve the working conditions for journalists.
Initially, journalists from Hyderabad, Nawabshah, Tando Allahyar, and Karachi will participate. A specialized training program will also be provided to build their capacity, conducted by industry experts familiar with labor laws.
The project is scheduled to begin immediately and will conclude in mid-November 2024.
Newspakistan.tv
