PFUJ sets up victims fund

PFUJ sets up victims fund

ISLAMABAD, Aug 11:- The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has appealed to the international community, journalists, human rights organizations and overseas Pakistanis to generously support journalists affected by the floods.

In an appeal, the PFUJ said that the people of Pakistan, including a large number of journalists, have been hit by the worst ever floods in the country’s history.

Devastating floods, accompanied by torrential rains, have claimed lives of more than 1683 people and injured 8487 persons while 6374 villages have been destroyed, 81187 cattle have perished, and more than 9,893,817 acres of cultivated land has been affected across the country.

Not only this, the entire population of Pakistan sustaining unbelievable and unbearable economic consequences, shortage of fruits, vegetables and other eatables has been swept by a flood of high prices.

Non-availability of various commodities is also affecting livestock besides economically crippling a large population living in the flood affected areas. Initial reports reveal that more than 20 million people have become homeless and economically ruined by floods. More than 6 million victims need aid for survival.

In such prevailing circumstances, the media persons are more severely affected as they are already underpaid as their salaries were not increased since 1^st July 1996 and since then prices of all commodities have gone up from 400 to 600 per cent without any relief from media owners.

The PFUJ pointed out that a female journalist Asma Anwar of Noshehra died due to floods. Likewise, houses of more than 213 journalists were completely damaged in Jaffarabad, Naseerabad, Makran, Sakardu, Gilgit, Baltistan, Khaplu, Mehdiabad, Kalam, Swat, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Mehdiabad, Swabi, Bajaur, Kohat, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Malakand, Chitral, Karak, Tank, Dir, Takhtbai, Muzaffargarh, Mianwali, Liyyah, Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bhakkar, Rahimyar Khan, Rajanpur, Jang, Sargodha, Lodhran, Sargodha, Ghotki, Sukkur, Kashmore, Shikarpur, Larkana, Dadu, Nawabshah, Thatta, Jampur, Karpur, and Sanghar.

According to the PFUJ, media persons in Pakistan are passing through tough times and are being terrorized by Taliban and other religious fanatics and the floods have further aggravated their miseries.

All those media-persons who were dislocated, affected, killed or injured and whose houses were completely or partially damaged need compensation and rehabilitation.

The PFUJ has established a victims fund in Islamabad for which an account titled “Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) Account No. 25574 National Bank of Pakistan, Corporate Branch, Super Market, Islamabad, Pakistan” has been opened.

The loss of human life and infrastructure is colossal and miseries of the affected are unbelievable. The PFUJ said that it was high time that the international community, journalists, human rights organizations came forward and generously supported the victims of the disastrous floods.

The PFUJ has appealed to donor agencies, philanthropists, international community, journalists, and human rights organisations and well-to-do persons to generously donate towards the PFUJ victims fund.

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