ISLAMABAD - The appointment of a permanent managing director of the state-run news agency, Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), is still in doldrums even the prime minister has approved the summary on the issue, The Nation learnt yesterday.
Sources in the Information Ministry told The Nation that the ministry moved a summary to PM for the appointment of permanent MD APP in July but the notification on the issue is still pending. They said, a three-member committee of the ministry headed by Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid had conducted interviews of 18 candidates for the post of MD APP in last week of June and finalized three names. 
A senior official of the information said that the Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid monitored the whole process of the appointment and finalized the three names.
He said that the PM had approved senior journalist Masoood Malik for the post and sent it back to the ministry and Establishment Division for issuing the notification. However, the further process is still pending.
Talking to The Nation, Masood Malik confirmed his confirmation as APP MD and his notification will be issued after Eid.