For decades, journalists in Punjab have worked under pressure, deadlines and risk, often neglecting their own health while telling the stories of others. On Tuesday, that long-standing silence was acknowledged.
The Punjab government announced a comprehensive healthcare initiative for journalists and their families through the Lahore Press Club, marking a rare moment where the storytellers themselves became the focus of state care.
The announcement was made by Punjab Minister for Health and Population Khawaja Imran Nazir during his visit to the Lahore Press Club, where he was welcomed by LPC President Arshad Ansari, General Secretary Afzal Talib and senior members of the governing body.
At the heart of the initiative is the launch of the “Clinic on Wheels”, a mobile healthcare service dedicated exclusively to journalists.
According to the Health Department, the service will provide free medical check-ups, essential medicines and basic diagnostic tests, removing cost and access barriers that have long plagued working journalists.
In a move seen as both symbolic and practical, the minister also announced the start of registration for insulin and medicine home delivery for journalists suffering from chronic illnesses. Under the Insulin Home Delivery Program, registered and deserving journalists will receive life-saving medication directly at their homes.
“These steps are not charity. They are responsibility,” Nazir said, adding that the initiative reflects the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. “Journalists are the eyes and ears of society. Protecting their health is the state’s duty.”
The government also unveiled plans to establish two Maryam Nawaz Clinics in the Journalists’ Colony. According to officials, a site inspection will be carried out shortly to identify land for a permanent medical facility, with construction to begin on an urgent basis.
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Nazir said the clinics would be equipped with modern medical technology to ensure quality treatment, not just basic care. He further assured full government support for upgrading the existing dispensary at the Lahore Press Club and maintaining a steady supply of medicines.
Senior journalists present at the event described the initiative as overdue but meaningful. For many in the profession, healthcare has remained an unspoken struggle, especially for freelancers, retired reporters and families without insurance.
This initiative, they said, is not just about clinics or medicines. It is about recognition.
In a profession where bylines fade and stories move on, the Punjab government’s healthcare package stands as a lasting acknowledgment of the people behind the news, offering dignity, relief and a measure of security to those who spend their lives holding power to account.
For Punjab’s journalist community, it is not merely a policy announcement. It is a lifeline.
