The Punjab government’s committee established to address journalists’ issues has decided to link payments to electronic and print media organisations with the timely disbursement of salaries to their workers.
The committee's second meeting, chaired by Secretary Information Tahir Raza Hamdani, made it clear that the Director General of Public Relations (DGPR) would have the authority to withhold payments from organisations failing to pay employees on time. Media outlets will be required to submit monthly salary certification to the DGPR.
Meanwhile, the experience requirement for the issuance of accreditation cards to journalists has been reduced from 10 years to five.
During the meeting, representatives of all major journalist associations pledged full support to the DGPR in efforts to eliminate dummy newspapers.
Attendees included Sarmad Ali, President of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS); Kazim Khan, President of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE); Tariq Mahmood, Secretary General of the Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND); Ayaz Khan, Senior Vice President of CPNE; and APNS members Noorullah and Mohsin Mumtaz.
