RAWALPINDI, Jan 21: The government is in the process of promulgating an ordinance to check the wild growth of newspapers and news agencies.

The Ordinance would be called Newspapers, News Agencies and Book Registration Ordinance and, will replace the Press and Publication Ordinance 1984.

At a Meet-the-Press programme, principal information officer, Ashfaq Gondal said the purpose of the Ordinance will be to regulate the registration of newspapers and news agencies. The Ordinance is ready and will be presented in the next cabinet meeting.

“Some people simply install a fax machine and a telephone and start sending news to newspapers. Even the newspaper editors don’t know where the news was coming from,” Gondal said adding the Ordinance would stem the growth of illegal newspapers and news agencies. No newspapers or news agency will function without obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC), he added.

The PIO said the establishment of a Press Council was also in the process. The All Pakistan Newspapers Society and Council Of Pakistan Newspapers Editors have unanimously approved it.

It will be headed by a high court judge with journalists, lawyers and representatives from the chambers and human rights organizations as members.

The PC will function as a private body aimed at promoting healthy journalism in the country, he said.

About the 7th Wage Board Award, he said union leaders of the journalist community would meet the labour minister on Jan 24 to settle the issue.