Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) has said that all former governments had obliged only a few big media groups while ignoring local and regional newspapers. Advertising policy should be formulated in consultation with stakeholders and the same must promote media industry rather being a reason to curtail it.

This was stated by Dr. Jabbar Khattak, Secretary General CPNE while welcoming Muhammad Tahir Hassan, Principal Information Officer (PIO), on his visit to the CPNE Secretariat here.

Dr. Khattak said that local and regional newspapers were ignored completely during the tenures of all former regimes. During the meeting, office bearers and members of CPNE shared their reservations and views regarding advertising police of federal government demanding government support media industry appropriately.

Speaking on this occasion, Muhammd Tahir Hassan said that for effective implementation of proposed advertising policy, an Oversight and Implementation Committee (OIC) will be formed under his chairmanship having heads of all related departments or sections. "Social and digital media will also get advertisements under this policy, he said.

"Process for formulation of an advertising policy for print, electronic, social and digital media is near a completion and now input has been sought from CPNE and other stakeholders. We have now shared its draft with CPNE as well and request the council to share its input or recommendations soon to finalize this policy draft," PIO said.

"This policy will cover all communication channels which include but not limited to news, entertainment, education, data or promotional messages. It is aimed at providing a broader framework for government advertisements and communications in order to inform and inculcate awareness among the masses on this issues of public importance, and achievements of government in print, electronic, social, digital and allied media," he added.-PR