Islamabad; April 22, 2011: A delegation of All Pakistan Photojournalists Association headed by its President Mr. Sajjad Haider called on President Asif Ali Zardari at the Aiwan-e-Sadr today.

The APPA delegation besides its President Mr. Sajjad Haider included Mr. Iqbal Chaudry, Mr. Ayaz Sheikh, Mr. Tanveer Shahzad, Mr. Abdul Hameed, Raja Zaffar, Mr. Ali Wahid, Mr. Farman Khan, , Mr. Aftab Rizvi, , Mr. Bashir But, , Mr. Mohammad Tahir, , Mr. Mohammad Sadiq, , Mr. Muzammal Shah, , Mr. Musa Farman., Mr. Saleem Rana.

Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan, Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Ms. Farahnaz Ispaani, MNA, Mr. Farhatullah Babar, Spokesperson, Mr. Taimur Azmat Usman, Secy Information and Mr. Mohammad Saleem, PIO were also present during the meeting.

The delegation apprised the President regarding their problems in discharge of their professional duties.

The President said that photographers were the frontline and advance column of journalistic community and faced the greatest hazards in the performance of their professional duties. The President said that press photographers due to nature of their job always faces risks to their lives so he directed the Ministry of information & Broadcasting to devise a scheme for insurance of photojournalists and provision of life jackets to enable them to discharge their duties with safety and without any fear particularly in conflict zones. He also asked for giving awards and commendation certificates to press photographers with certain minimum service length for their outstanding contributions in the field of photojournalism.

The President called upon Ministry of Information & Broadcasting to examine the proposal of setting up a National Institute of Press Photographers for training and capacity building of photojournalists in the country.

The President said that the government was aware of the problems being faced by photojournalists and advised the ministry of Information & Broadcasting to take all possible steps for resolving their problems. He said that the Government will provide all possible assistance to enhance the professional capabilities of photojournalists.

The President appreciated the courage and valor of photo journalists in conflict areas in the pursuit of professional duties and praised APPA for the work it has been doing for the promotion of photojournalism in the country.

The delegation thanked the President for meeting and his keenness to resolve the issues faced by the photojournalists in the country Delegation of All Pakistan Photojournalists Association call on the President