ISLAMABAD: Federal Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said on Monday that transparency cannot be ensured in the process of awarding advertisements to newspapers unless all details were uploaded on the website of the Press Information Department (PID).

She was speaking to participants of the APNS Summit 2018: Future of Advertisement at a hotel.

According to Ms Aurangzeb, the government remains cautious in issuing advertisements because of dummy newspapers and payment of commission to employees against advertisements.

“Things can improve only if details are provided on the website about the number of advertisements given to each newspaper. We have started the process and soon details of newspaper advertisements , even in regional newspapers, will be available on the website,” she added.

She said after taking over as information minister, she decided to change the process of awarding advertisements and to introduce reforms in the advertising sector. “There is a need to bring reforms in the Central Media List of the government and we have been working on it. I also took All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) on board,” she said.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2018