Karachi - The All Pakistan Newspapers Society has urged upon the federal government to take serious note of the problems faced by the newspaper industry especially the smaller and regional newspapers.
The executive committee of the APNS met in Islamabad on August 10 with its President Hameed Haroon in chair.
APNS secretary general Sarmad Ali announced that the executive committee considered the report of non-payment of dues of print media by the federal and provincial governments and requested the centre to clear the long-outstanding dues of member publications duly verified and audited by the PID relating to the Ministry of Information, devolved ministries and dues relating to the federal government departments for the period 2008-2012.
The executive committee pointed out that the commitment of Federation towards increase in the federal government advertisements’ rate, had not been notified despite various assurances. The members expressed their concern on the implementation of Centralized Media Policy framed as a part of draconian press laws during Ayub era. They pointed out that the advertisers must have their choice of media selection hence, the implementation on Centralized Media Policy be stopped and existing system be restored.
The members noted that the budget allocated for advertising, has not been increased for several years which should not only be doubled but separate allocations for electronic and print media be made so that the newspaper industry should not be deprived of its due share in the federal government advertisement budget. The members noted that 25 percent quota for regional publications, was not being implemented in letter and spirit. It demanded that no addition be made by the PID from this quota to publications other than the regional publications. The APNS members gathered from across the country, noted that while the federal government advertisements could not be released by non-APNS advertising agencies; the release of advertisements to non-APNS publications was also not justified. The executive committee reiterated its demand that the Ministry of Information must release government advertisements to APNS members only.
The members also urged upon the PID that the advertisements distribution must be transparent and advertisements are released on merit without any fear and favor on personal relation.
The members noted that despite agreement of APNS with the ministry, the Audit Bureau of Circulation was insisting on renewal of ABC certificates every year whereas it had been decided with the Ministry of Information that the ABC certificates would be issued for three years. The executive committee also noted that the renewal of registration of newspapers, was violation of Press, Newspapers, News Agencies and Books Registration Ordinance 2002, which should be stopped forthwith by the press registrar. The members also noted that the press registrar was issuing declarations to new publications with the identical/partly identical or similar existing titles which should also be stopped.
The members approved the report of the advertising committee and decided to grant associate-ship to M/S Brand-Ache Communications Lahore and provisional accreditation to M/S Bilal Associates Karachi. The Committee also approved the restructuring of M/S Graymatter Communication Islamabad, M/S Advertising & Information Management (Pvt) Ltd (AIM) Islamabad and M/S Add World Advertising Rawalpindi. The committee reviewed the performance of its committees and formed a sub-committee under Kazi Asad Abid to evaluate and review their functioning and activities.
During the meeting of the committee, a separate session was held with the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Irfan Siddiqui, Secretary Information Muhammad Azam and Principal Information Officer Rao Tehsin Ali Khan.
In this meeting, the members highlighted the issues and urged upon the Ministry of Information to address these long pending issues. The Secretary Information and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister assured members that the issues will be addressed in consultation with the APNS at the earliest. They announced that a joint committee of the PID and APNS be formed to examine the issues faced by newspaper industry. The secretary information announced to accept the demand of ABC for three years. He also announced that the declaration not in publication for three years, will be cancelled. He agreed to the APNS demand that the registration of declaration should be once and no renewal would be required. He also announced that notification of increase in the advertisement rate will be issued shortly.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, President Mamnoon Hussain hosted a lunch for the Executive Committee of the APNS wherein the president highlighted the issues of national importance and the role of print media.
The executive committee meeting was attended by APNS President Hameed Haroon, Senior Vice-President Rameeza Majid Nizami, Vice-President Mumtaz A Tahir, Secretary General Sarmad Ali, Joint Secretary Rahmat Ali Raazi, Finance Secretary Hamayun Tariq, Adnan Zafar (Daily Aaj, Pew), Mehtab Khan (Daily Ausaf), Waseem Ahmed (Daily Awam, Qta), Dr Jabbar Khattak (D/Awami Awaz), Shahab Zuberi (D/Business Recorder), Syed Tanveer Hussain (D/City42), Fauzia Shaheen (Monthly Dastak), Aijaz-ul-Haq (D/ Express), Kazi Asad Abid (D/Ibrat), Javed Mehr Shamsi (D/Kaleem), Zia Shahid (D/Khabrain), Syed Ayaz Badshah (D/Mashriq, Peshawar), Sardar Khan Niazi (M/Naya Rukh), Mujib-ur-Rahman Shami (Daily Pakistan, Lhr), Syed Muhammad Munir Jilani (D/Paigham), Babar Nizami (D/Pakistan Today), Ilyas Shakir (D/Qaumi Akhbar), Khushnood Ali Khan (D/Sahafat, Ibd.), Humayun Gulzar (D/Sayadat), Riaz Ahmed Mansuri (M/ The Cricketer) and Jamil Ather (D/Tijarat).