PESHAWAR: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz has said that the government is committed to ensuring press freedom in the country.
While addressing here a joint meeting of Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors (CPNE) and All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) he said an inclusive mechanism was being prepared to streamline the distribution of advertisements and payment of outstanding dues to the media outlets.
The present elected government, which strongly believed in freedom of media, needed the cooperation of all stakeholders in that regard, he said.
Shibli Faraz said there were a small of newspapers with the only channels of Pakistan Television in the ’60s and ’70s, which were providing information to the people.
“Today, in the presence of a large number of newspapers and TV channels, the minister for information remain on duty for 24 hours to inform the people about the government’s policies, reforms and projects,” he added.
The information ministers said despite his busy schedule of official engagements, he was well aware of the problems of newspaper owners.
A proper mechanism should be in place for establishing harmonious relations between the govt departments and media organizations, which should not be affected by a change in government, he added.
The minister said the newspapers played a key role in informing the masses about the government policies and projects, besides national and international issues, and any appreciation or criticism from them on the government policies should not be linked with the issuance of advertisements.
Faraz said the outstanding amount accumulated on account of advertisements from 2018, to date had been paid to the media outlets, but unfortunately, salaries were not paid to the media workers.
During the previous regimes, advertisements were issued for personal publicity and their proper record was also not maintained.
Shibli Faraz said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government after coming into power streamlined the procedure for issuance of advertisements to the media outlets and made it transparent. The minister urged the media owners to ensure timely payment of salaries to their workers.
He clarified that the government had neither closed any media organization nor pressured any news channel or newspaper for personal media coverage.
Shibli Faraz said the government was in the process to introduce a bill for the protection and welfare of journalists and sought positive and workable suggestions in that regard.
He said the provincial governments would be requested for payment of outstanding amounts to newspaper owners on account of advertisements.
The federal government will provide all possible facilities for the promotion of independent and responsible journalism, he added.
