Table of Contents
In a major step to uphold the financial rights of journalists, the Punjab government has announced that official advertisements and payments to media houses will now be contingent on the timely disbursement of salaries to media employees. The decision was made during the second meeting of the Special Committee on Journalist Issues, chaired by Secretary Information Syed Tahir Raza Hamdani, on the directives of Provincial Minister for Information and Culture, Azma Bokhari.
The meeting was attended by key stakeholders including DGPR Punjab Ghulam Saghir Shahid and leading representatives from media organizations and journalist unions.
Salary Compliance Now Mandatory for Official Payments
Under the new policy, both electronic and print media organizations will be required to prove compliance with regular salary payments in order to continue receiving government advertisements and payments. To enforce this, the Directorate General Public Relations (DGPR) has been authorized to withhold payments to outlets that fail to pay their employees on time.
Media houses must now submit monthly salary disbursement certificates to the DGPR as proof of compliance—a move aimed at increasing transparency and ensuring the financial well-being of media workers across Punjab.
Press Accreditation Criteria Eased
In another significant development, the committee approved a reduction in the professional experience required for the issuance of press accreditation cards, lowering the bar from 10 years to 5 years. This change is expected to benefit a broad range of working journalists, particularly those in the early and mid stages of their careers who were previously ineligible under the older criteria.
Nadeem Mahbub Appointed Acting HEC Chairperson
Crackdown on Dummy Newspapers Gains Momentum
The committee also reaffirmed support for the ongoing campaign by the DGPR to eliminate dummy newspapers—unregistered or inactive publications that exploit state resources without fulfilling journalistic responsibilities. Media stakeholders unanimously endorsed this initiative, agreeing that rooting out such entities is essential to upholding journalistic integrity and restoring public trust in the media.
Strong Support from Journalist Bodies
Prominent media representatives present at the meeting included:
- Sarmad Ali, President, All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS)
- Kazam Khan, President, Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE)
- Hafiz Tariq Mahmood, Secretary, Association of Media and Electronic News Directors (AMEND)
- Ayaz Khan, Senior Vice President, CPNE
- Noorullah and Mohsin Mumtaz, Members, APNS
These representatives welcomed the government’s decisions and reaffirmed their commitment to promoting responsible, transparent, and worker-friendly journalism in Punjab.
A Step Toward Media Reform
The Punjab government’s latest moves mark a serious push for media reform, prioritizing journalists’ financial protection, credibility of media outlets, and institutional accountability. With the DGPR now empowered to monitor and enforce compliance, the province is setting a precedent for aligning public funding with ethical and operational standards in the media industry.
