ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi on Wednesday approved the appointment of Saeed Ahmed Sheikh, a Grade 20 officer of the Information Group, as the interim chairman of the National Press Trust (NPT).

President Alvi also approved the Management Position 1 (MP 1) scale for the NPT chairman post, which has almost no function and responsibility to perform.

He gave the approvals under the National Press Trust (Appointment of Chairman) Act 1972.

The NPT was established in 1964 under a trust deed by 39 private sector business entities of that time. Its vision was to promote sound and healthy journalism in the country with a “truly national outlook”.

However, it was nationalised in the 1970s. Later in 1996, the NPT charter was amended as all the newspapers under it, including Imroze, Pakistan Times, Mashriq, etc., were privatised.

But despite selling the newspapers, the NPT continues to collect rent from the buildings and other properties. While it remains a private trust, it is regulated by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Apart from managing its own accounts and around 25 permanent employees, the key function of National Press Trust was to conduct workshops and training for journalists and even students.

Mr Sheikh would continue to serve in the role “on a look-after basis” until the appointment of a regular NPT chairman.

However, the press note issued by the Presidency highlighted that Dr Alvi had approved the removal of the former NPT chairman, Munir Ahmed Khan, from the position over “his incompetence and embezzlement of public funds”.

On the other hand, sources in the information ministry said that neither a show-cause notice was issued nor an inquiry was conducted against Mr Khan.

While the press note claimed that Mr Khan was involved in financial misconduct, there was not even a single complaint against him from any quarter.

He was appointed the NPT chairman in November 2021 by former prime minister Imran Khan.

Published in Dawn, April 13th, 2023