ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary panel has asked the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to ensure that all media houses pay their workers at least Rs37,500, which has been fixed as minimum monthly salary.

The sub-committee of the National Assembly standing committee on information and broadcasting held under the convenorship of Syed Aminul Haque on Tuesday discussed the current state of payment of salaries and outstanding dues and suggested measures for ensuring rights of media workers.

The committee asked the authorities to stop advertisements of media houses in case of defiance and take measures to increase the number of Implementation Tribunal for Newspaper Employees (ITNE) to five as well as eliminate the system of third-party contracts in media houses.

Also, it recommended that steps be taken in accordance with the policy for complaints regarding dummy newspapers and payment of PBA dues.

Information Secretary Ambreen Jan, Pemra chairman Saleem Baig, ITNE chairman Shahid Mehmood Khokhar and Principal Information Officer Mubashir Hasan also briefed the panel on redressal of grievances and payment of salaries to journalists and media workers.

Committee members Sahar Kamran, Abdul Ghafoor Haideri and Moazzam Ali Khan also attended the meeting. The committee was apprised by journalist bodies representatives about the non-payment or delay in salaries, absence of job security and lack of fringe benefits to journalists.

Published in Dawn, December 4th, 2024