KARACHI, March 26: A meeting of the APNS-CPNE Joint Action Committee, held here on Friday, expressed its concern over the ban of government advertisements to a section of the press.

The committee noted that the long-drawn out ban on the Nawa-i-Waqt and The Nation had strained the press-government relations and urged that the issue should be resolved through a meaningful and constructive dialogue between the government and the press.

"The present geo-political situation in the region and the state of democratic dispensation in the country demands a cordial and healthy press-government relationship which could guarantee a truly free, objective and feasible press in the country," the committee said, according to a press release.

It decided to take up the matter with the president and the prime minister and hoped that a meeting will be held before March 31, as the joint committee has to report on the matter to the annual general council of the APNS.