APNS laments Punjab govt’s decision of not issuing ads to press

LAHORE: APNS has expressed grave concern over the stoppage of tender advertisements in newspapers by Punjab government vide amendment to the procurement (PPRA) rules.

According to a press release, the APNS has strongly rejected the amendment being disastrous for the already crisis-ridden newspapers in Punjab as it would result in the closure and strangling of all the medium and regional newspapers across the province.

The Punjab Committee of the APNS at its meeting held under the chairmanship of Jamil Athar has urged Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to immediately intervene in the matter and withdraw the amendment to save newspaper industry from closure and unemployment of thousands of journalists and newspaper workers. The APNS committee noted that the amendment would not only badly impact on the economies of newspapers but would also negate the transparency in the procurement process.

The members were briefed that despite assurances by the Information Minister, Ms Azma Bokhari, the amendment has not yet been withdrawn hence the newspapers are facing acute financial crisis.

The members decided to form a Joint Action Committee of media organisations including CPNE and PFUJ. The committee also decided to take legal recourse and actions and protests on all available forums if the amendment not withdrawn by the Punjab government.

The meeting was attended by Chairman Jamil Athar, Irfan Ashraf (Jang), Imran Raza (Dawn), Mohammad Farooq (Pakistan), Sheikh Furgan (Khabrain), Safdar Ali Khan (Sarzameen), Awais Raazi (Tagat), Mohsin, Mumtaz (Aftab), Imran Athar Kazi (Tijarat) and Irfan Athar Kazi (Jurrat).