Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has made a historic move for the journalist community, deciding to provide plots to 3,200 journalists, 24NewsHD TV Channel reported on Thursday.
Maryam Nawaz directed the Ministry of Information to take immediate steps to establish Journalist Colony Lahore Phase II and complete all legal requirements to ensure the swift allocation of plots to journalists.
In a meeting with Punjab Information Minister Uzma Bukhari, CM Maryam Nawaz instructed her to expedite the proceedings of Phase II of the Journalist Housing Scheme.
During the meeting, Maryam Nawaz emphasised, "Journalists and the government are like two wheels of the same vehicle; giving plots to journalists is not a favour but their right."
CM Maryam Nawaz stressed that all journalists would be given plots based on merit and after fulfilling all legal prerequisites.
According to a channel report, the Ministry of Information Punjab has decided to invite applications from journalists other than those associated with the Lahore Press Club.
As per the report, a formal advertisement in this regard will be issued within the next two to three days.
The first ever scheme of Lahore city was launched by the Punjab government for the journalists working in the different newspapers in 2004, when Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi was Chief Minister.
This housing colony is situated near Harbanspura on Canal Road.
Reporter: Rao Dilshad