Commissioner Shoaib Siddiqui praises role of media in highlighting issues

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Commissioner Karachi, Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui, has acknowledged that a vibrant media plays a significant role in highlighting the issues of public importance helping the authorities in solving them.

He made the observation while talking to a delegation of APP Employees Union (CBA) Sindh, led by its President Ehsan Qureshi, who called on the Commissioner on May 23.

Shoaib Siddiqui recognized the contribution of the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), the national news agency of the country, in different fields of national life and noted that the men holding its flag have worked with dedication, having kept the national interest foremost while discharging professional duty.

He was informed by the delegation that this is for the first time in the history of the office of Commissioner Karachi that the APP Employees Union's elected office bearers have been granted an audience by the administrative chief of the country’s biggest metropolis.

The Commissioner Karachi offered every possible support for welfare of deceased senior reporters of this organization and assured to extend support and assistance needed for the good cause.

Shoaib Siddiqui, who took over as Commissioner Karachi in April, stated having received big support from the APP and promised to help in raising funds for the late Chief Reporter of APP Karachi,  Khushnood Ali Shaikh, who lost his life in a road accident, and Rafi Nasir, another senior reporter  who died late last year.

"We will join hands with APP Sindh Union in their endeavours for extending support to the families of the late reporters," he announced while lauding the services of late Khushnood Shaikh and Rafi Nasir in their journalistic career.

On the occasion, Vice President of the Union Arshad Ahmed Khan briefed the Commissioner about the various plans chalked out for the welfare of members of APP Employees Sindh and introducing the annual awards for them. He also spoke about the plans for holding a reunion of retired APP staffers..

He said the national news agency has always played a positive role in projecting the real public issues through their reporting skills, photo journalism and video news service (VNS).

    

The other members of the delegation included Faheem Haider (Treasurer), Anwer Ali (Joint Secretary), Members Governing Body Toheed Siddiqui, Shoaib Qamar and Muhammad Saleem.