New advertisement policy to be finalized after taking inputs from stakeholders: Firdous

KARACHI: Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting, Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan on Monday said that the present government was fully aware of the media industry problems and had prepared an advertisement policy draft, which would be finalised after taking inputs from all stakeholders.

She stated this while talking to the owners of Newspapers at a meeting in All Pakistan Newspapers Society  (APNS) House here.

She said that the present government had made payment amounting to more than Rs.58 crores to various media houses.

She said that the government had always appreciated the constructive and positive criticism from media as it helped improved our performance.

Dr. Firdous called upon all representative bodies of working journalists and owners to come forward with concrete suggestions and proposals to remove the lacunas in the proposed advertisement policy.

She said that the government is taking all necessary measures to ensure transparency in the distribution of government advertisements.

She said that the government attached importance to the regional and vernacular newspapers and Dr. Firdous called upon the office-bearers to give their inputs on the proposed advertisement policy so as to bring improvement in it.

Earlier, APNS Secretery General Syed Sarmad Ali apprised the Special Assistant of problems being faced by Print Media owing to delay in their outstanding dues and decrease in quantum of government advertisements.