The Federal Secretary Information and Broadcasting Shafqat Jalil met Sarmad Ali, General Secretary All Pakistan Newspapers Society here yesterday and conveyed his concern over a statement issued by the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) and Pakistan Broadcasting Association, (PBA) relating to figures pertaining to advertisement dues. The figures issued by APNS and PBA are disputed, he conveyed.
According to him, Federal Minister of Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry has been critical of the use of advertisements as a tool to influence media by the previous government. He emphasised that the present government led by Prime Minister Imran Khan is committed to a policy of equitable and fair distribution of government advertisements.
The federal government, he said, is clearing payments of Rs 320 million while another estimated Rs 180 million is being processed for payments. As for the outstandings pertaining to the Punjab government payments of nearly Rs 150 million will be made shortly.
Shafqat Jalil informed Sarmad Ali that to find a permanent solution to the issue of release of government advertisements, a Draft Advertisement Policy has been circulated among stakeholders, including PBA and APNS.
The government is committed to freedom of expression and support the media industry. Any proposal to help media industry in their ease of doing business would be given serious consideration by the federal government, he assured.-PR