Government orders clearance of media houses' dues to prevent layoffs

Published November 12, 2018
The information minister says that the announcement is significant in the backdrop of the ongoing media retrenchment.— DawnNewsTV
The information minister says that the announcement is significant in the backdrop of the ongoing media retrenchment.— DawnNewsTV

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Monday said Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed the concerned departments to immediately clear all pending dues accruing to media houses.

"In the past few weeks, the government has observed that people are being sacked from various media houses. The PTI government is committed to providing livelihood to people and this decision will serve as an instant relief measure," Chaudhry said.

Chaudhry said the federal and the provincial governments have been directed to start the process of reimbursing media houses with immediate effect.

He alleged that previous governments had used media advertisements as a political tool and that policy had affected business and created chaos in the industry.

The information minister claimed that the PTI-led government will "bring a rationality and balance" in the industry through its decisions.

"Similar to how the incumbent government has abolished censorship in state-run media, it is taking measures to limit and eventually end government control over media advertisements," he said.

Chaudhry said that it had been decided that a transparent advertisement policy will be chalked out to deal with advertising contracts purely on a merit basis.

Opinion

Editorial

‘Source of terror’
Updated 29 Mar, 2024

‘Source of terror’

It is clear that going after militant groups inside Afghanistan unilaterally presents its own set of difficulties.
Chipping in
29 Mar, 2024

Chipping in

FEDERAL infrastructure development schemes are located in the provinces. Most such projects — for instance,...
Toxic emitters
29 Mar, 2024

Toxic emitters

IT is concerning to note that dozens of industries have been violating environmental laws in and around Islamabad....
Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...