Pulwama journalists demand Press Club, seek local administration support

PULWAMA — The Journalists Guild of Pulwama (JGP) is calling for the establishment of a press club in the district and has sought the support of the local administration. Fourteen members of the guild met Thursday, led by interim President Javid Sofi, to discuss the needs and challenges faced by journalists, with the press club as a key priority.

The guild passed a resolution requesting the Pulwama District Administration, specifically Deputy Commissioner Dr Basharat Qayoom, to establish the facility and provide temporary accommodations until a permanent location is secured.

The resolution was presented to Dr Basharat Qayoom in the presence of District Information Officer Ms Wajeeza. The guild also decided to involve the District Information Department to facilitate the process.

Pertinently, the establishment of a press club has been a long-pending demand of the media fraternity in the district.

The JGP members unanimously pledged to work towards a supportive environment for journalists to effectively perform their duties. They also expressed their commitment to bridging the gap between the administration and the public to achieve a forward-looking society.

Attendees included Javid Sofi (Interim President), Tanha Ayaz (Spokesperson), Gazi Khursheed, Bilal Khan, Aasif Ganaie, Mushtaq-ul-Islam, Adil Shahnawaz, Zahid Chaat, Firdous Ahmad, Tawseef Khan, Reshi Irshad, Khursheed Ahmad, and Shabir Ahmad.

It is in place to mention here that a Press Club was inaugurated by the District Development Commissioner Pulwama, Dr Syed Abid Rasheed Shah in June 2019. However, the facility was later wholly reassigned to the District Employment and Counseling Centre (DE&CC) Pulwama.