Journalists Alliance Pakistan South Punjab Chapter Holds Founding Session, Elects 21-Member Steering Committee
AHMEDPUR EAST, August 1: The Journalists Alliance Pakistan (JAP) Rural & Town Press Clubs Chapter – South Punjab formally held its founding session at Punjab College Ahmedpur East on Saturday. The event was organized by Digital Daily Nawa-i-Ahmedpur Sharqia (Daily NAPS) in collaboration with Punjab College Ahmedpur East.
Representatives of fourteen rural and town press clubs from the districts of Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan and Muzaffargarh participated in the session, which approved the formation of the Chapter, elected a 21-member steering committee unopposed, adopted a 10-point manifesto and a 13-point statement of aims and objectives, and unanimously passed eleven resolutions concerning the welfare and professional rights of rural journalists.
JAP Founder Ehsan Ahmed Sehar, who chaired the session, announced the establishment of the Chapter but reiterated that he would not hold any office, preferring to continue serving voluntarily in an advisory capacity so that leadership remains with the participating rural and town press clubs.
Office-Bearers
The following office-bearers were elected unanimously:
- Patron: Iftikhar Ahmed Alvi (Samasata)
- Co-Chairmen: Irshad Ahmed Shad (Uch Sharif) and Rana Zulfiqar Ali (Shehr Sultan)
- General Secretary: Rana Muhammad Qasim (Khanbela)
- Chief Organizer: Shahid Bashir Chaudhry (Chani Goth)
- Chief Coordinator: Faraz Haider Khan (Mubarakpur)
- Senior Vice Chairman: Muhammad Arabi Abbasi (Tranda Muhammad Panah)
- Vice Presidents: Syed Liaquat Ali Rizvi (Hatheji), Malik Asif Awan (Nowshera Jadeed) and Imam Bakhsh Bhatti (Musafir Khana)
- Additional General Secretaries: Muhammad Abu Bakr Rongha (Hatheji), Ghulam Murtaza Chaudhry (Khanqah Sharif), Inam-us-Sattar Khan Mustoi (Tranda Muhammad Panah) and Ehsan-ul-Haq Siddiqui (Khanbela)
- Secretary Coordination: Hameedullah Khan Aziz (Daily Nawa-i-Ahmedpur Sharqia)
- Deputy Secretaries General: Muhammad Khizr Abbas (Nowshera Jadeed), Ejaz Ahmed Khan (Daily Nawa-i-Ahmedpur Sharqia) and Rana Haroon Abbas (Janpur)
- Finance Secretary: Rashid Mehmood Chanar (Daily Nawa-i-Ahmedpur Sharqia)
In addition, Muhammad Suleman Farooqi, Director of Punjab College Ahmedpur East, was nominated Chairman of the 21-member Steering Committee, while educationist Syed Tanveer-ul-Hassan Bukhari became its Vice Chairman. Ahmed Ali Chaudhry was appointed Chairman of the Safety Commission, and Muhammad Ammar Alvi was named Coordinator of the JAP Bahawalpur District Youth Chapter.
Manifesto and Resolutions
The founding session formally adopted a 10-point manifesto and a 13-point statement of aims and objectives. Delegates also unanimously approved eleven resolutions calling upon the federal and Punjab governments to strengthen support for rural journalism.
Among the major demands were:
- Allocation of a regular share for Rural & Town Press Clubs in the Punjab Government Journalists Fund.
- District-level professional training programmes for rural journalists.
- Reserved quotas for rural journalists in journalists’ housing schemes.
- Simplification of the registration process for rural press clubs and inclusion in annual government grants.
- Protection of rural journalists from misuse of cybercrime laws while performing their professional duties.
- Fair and timely distribution of government advertisements to regional newspapers.
- Government grants to support the digital transformation of regional newspapers.
Certificate Distribution Ceremony
A certificate distribution ceremony was also held for representatives of the fourteen participating press clubs.
Former Deputy Speaker of the Punjab Assembly Sahibzada Muhammad Usman Khan Abbasi, addressing the gathering as chief guest, described regional journalists as the backbone of Pakistan’s media industry and urged the government to provide financial support for the digital transformation of regional newspapers.
The session was presided over by Muhammad Humayun Gulzar, Chairman of the APNS Regional Press Committee, who congratulated the organizers on establishing the Chapter and observed that Pakistan’s regional print media continues to face serious challenges, including declining advertising revenues, shrinking circulation and rising production costs.
Addressing the participants, Ehsan Ahmed Sehar announced that Rural Media Network Pakistan (RMNP), in partnership with an international media organization, plans to organize an online professional training programme for members of the Chapter in October 2026.
He also thanked Muhammad Suleman Farooqi, Director of Punjab College Ahmedpur East, for his institution’s cooperation in hosting the founding session.
The proceedings were conducted by Hameedullah Khan Aziz, Secretary Coordination, while Muhammad Ejaz Khan Pathan, President of the registered Uch Sharif Press & Media Club, announced two “Journalists Support Cash Awards” of Rs.10,000 each to be presented at the discretion of JAP Founder Ehsan Ahmed Sehar.
The programme concluded with a luncheon hosted by the management of Punjab College Ahmedpur East in honour of the delegates.
Background
The concept of the Journalists Alliance Pakistan was first announced during a meeting jointly organized by Digital Daily Nawa-i-Ahmedpur Sharqia and Rural Media Network Pakistan (RMNP). Subsequently, during an RMNP programme held on 12 October, rural and town press clubs were encouraged to become part of the proposed alliance to strengthen cooperation and promote the professional interests of journalists working in rural and small-town Pakistan.
The newly established Journalists Alliance Pakistan Rural & Town Press Clubs Chapter – South Punjab brings together press clubs from Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan and Muzaffargarh districts under a common platform dedicated to promoting ethical journalism, professional cooperation, journalists’ safety and institutional development.