Matters of concern: CPNE team, info secretary discuss print media issues

Meeting decides to place ads related data on PID website twice a week

ISLAMABAD: A delegation of CPNE Executive Committee members headed by its President, Zia Shahid and Secretary General Aijazul Haq held a meeting with Secretary Information SM Imran Gardezi to discuss issues related to print media on Thursday.

It was decided in the meeting that the advertisement related data would be placed on the website of Press Information Department (PID), twice a week, said a press release.

It was also decided that necessary bills and invoices of the newspapers would be included in the advertisement claims submitted by the advertising agencies to the PID for verification and payment with effect from July 1.

Gardezi informed the delegation that on the request of Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), the ministry had notified a high powered liaison committee headed by secretary information to meet regularly with CPNE to resolve issues related to print media.

CPNE while appreciating the steps taken in the federal territory for conducting security audit of the media houses, expressed concern over the delay in replicating the same in the provinces. The secretary assured the delegation that provincial governments would be activated to ensure security of media houses.

Gardezi informed the delegation that necessary steps were being taken to implement the directive of the prime minister for provision of a plot to the CPNE for its headquarters in Islamabad.

CPNE also raised the issue of stringent process being adopted by the PIA and Pakistan Railways for providing discount on local travel to the media persons. It was decided in the meeting that the matter would be taken with the concerned departments for facilitation of media persons.

CPNE also raised the issues related to the ads of federal government. The secretary said that the PID ensures advertisements to the regional and smaller newspapers on equitable basis.

Other matters relating to Audit Bureau of Circulation and Registration of Newspapers were also discussed.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 29^th, 2016.