ISLAMABAD: A landmark cooperation agreement has been signed between the EPNEC and 4thpillar, an international media organization based in the United States, to promote the welfare, economic empowerment, and professional development of Pakistani journalists and media workers.
Under the agreement, both organizations will work together to create opportunities for Pakistani media workers to participate in seminars, professional training workshops, and other activities in the United States. The partnership will also focus on developing alternative sources of income and creating sustainable employment opportunities for media professionals.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, EPNEC Chairman Siddiq Anzar said that Farooq Mirza, Chairman of 4thpillar, has been associated with journalism in the United States for more than three decades. Whenever he visits Pakistan, he consistently expresses his commitment to taking practical initiatives for the welfare and professional advancement of Pakistani journalists and media workers.
He said the agreement would open new opportunities for ordinary media workers to participate in international seminars, training workshops, and professional development activities in the United States. He added that, in the past, such opportunities were largely available to prominent journalists and well-known media personalities. However, the objective of this partnership is to extend these opportunities to ordinary media workers as well.
He also announced that plans were being considered to organize a major seminar in Pakistan under this joint initiative.
Highlighting the financial challenges faced by journalists and media workers, including unemployment, low salaries, and delayed payments, Siddiq Anzar said that a grant of Rs. 1 billion had been approved by the Prime Minister of Pakistan for the health insurance of journalists and media workers.
He stated that more than 6,500 journalists and media workers across the country had already benefited from the health insurance initiative, while applications from another 25,000 individuals had been received for inclusion in the scheme. Efforts are underway to extend the facility to additional eligible applicants.
Addressing the gathering, 4thpillar Chairman Farooq Mirza welcomed the agreement and expressed his commitment to working closely with EPNEC to create practical and sustainable economic opportunities for media workers.
As an initial step, he requested EPNEC Chairman Siddiq to provide a list of 20 deserving male and female media workers for a pilot project. Through this initiative, 4thpillar aims to help selected individuals establish a second source of income.
Mirza said that 4thpillar has access to technology, products, and sponsorship resources that can be utilized to economically empower media workers. He emphasized that the objective is not merely to provide employment opportunities but to enable media professionals to become financially independent and develop the capacity to generate their own livelihoods.
He further stated that overseas Pakistani communities and international media networks would also be engaged in the initiative to establish an effective model of support for Pakistani media workers.
Another speaker at the ceremony described the agreement as the beginning of a direct engagement with media workers to address their concerns and protect their rights.
He said EPNEC and 4thpillar would jointly work to document the problems faced by media workers and develop a strong and effective pressure group based on systematic research and scientific evidence.
He added that the partnership would raise awareness about the challenges confronting Pakistani media professionals at both national and international levels, ensuring that relevant international journalistic organizations and media communities are also informed about their concerns.
The two organizations would also work together to identify and address administrative and governmental obstacles that hinder the protection of journalists’ rights and the resolution of media workers’ problems.
Several prominent journalists and representatives of media organizations attended the ceremony.
The participants expressed hope that the partnership between EPNEC and 4thpillar would emerge as an effective platform for promoting economic stability, professional growth, employment opportunities, and the protection of journalists’ and media workers’ rights in Pakistan.
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