APNS moot: Sindh government to devise mechanism for early payment of newspapers' dues: Nasir

Sindh Information Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah appreciating the positive role of newspapers assured that provincial government would take necessary steps for the promotion and development of media industry.

Sindh government would also ensure the payment of arrears on account of its advertisements and their fair distribution to newspapers, he assured.

Speaking at a conference organized by Metropolitan B Committee of All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), provincial minister assured to devise a mechanism through mutual consultation of Sindh Information Department and APNS for the early payment of pending dues of newspapers as well as monthly payments of dues on account of provincial advertisements.

He also announced to constitute a joint committee for initiation of display advertisements as well as fair distribution of advertisements of provincial government. Javed Jabbar, Former Information Minister and renowned expert of media industry in his keynote address emphasized upon the newspapers to highlight the local issues and said that flood of information in the contemporary world had made the readers "selective" and opined that newspapers should produce creative content to grab the attention of the readers. He referred to international newspapers, which are progressing by making their content compatible with the needs of new age.

Sarmad Ali, Secretary General APNS said that newspapers would continue to play their role along with TV, radio and internet in the changing world of media.

He dispelled the impression that newspapers are losing their utility in the changing times. He, however stressed that newspapers would have to adopt innovative techniques by converting themselves to "view papers".

He said that newspapers are also required to establish their link with the young readers by producing the content that would catch their attention.

He also impressed upon newspapers to publish background of the events, airing on TV as well as their analysis to remain alive in the changing dynamics of media.

APNS Secretary General stated federal, Punjab and KPK governments owe Rs.4 billion to newspapers on account of their advertisements and disclosed that volume of government advertisements has been slashed by 60 percent, which has created the financial constraints for newspapers to pay the salaries for their employees and would end up in growing unemployment in media industry.

Younas Mehr and Mumtaz Phulphoto also addressed the conference and spoke about the problems, being faced by newspapers in Sindh.

Committee Chairman Abdul Wasay Shakir welcomed the participants of conference and apprised about eh the activities of the committee. He said that APNS observed "newspapers reading" day on September 25 on the recommendations of the committee to start awareness campaign about the importance of reading and newspapers.

He announced that a workshop would be held on the problems of newspapers after this conference. The conference demanded by adopting the resolution, moved by Syed Akbar Tahir that Sindh government should ensure fair distribution of its advertisements and payment of pending dues of newspapers. Publishers and editors of newspapers attended the conference in large number.-PR