New media advertisement policy in the works: Awan

Govt to resolve all issues of media industry through consultation and dialogue, says special assistant

ISLAMABAD: The government would soon launch a new media advertisement policy to make it compatible with modern requirements, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan said on Monday.

Speaking at a meeting of Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors (CPNE) in Islamabad, the de-facto information minister said all stakeholders would be consulted in preparation of the new policy.

She said the government was taking measures to resolve issues of media houses such that media workers were not affected and were paid on time.

Awan said changes would be introduced in the role of advertising agencies, adding that the government would ensure a conducive environment for media workers.

The special assistant argued that Prime Minister Imran Khan would come up to the expectations of the media community, and that the government wanted to settle all issues of the media industry through consultation and dialogue.

The PTI leader said she had advised Principal Information Officer Tahir Khushnood to hold consultations with media organisations, as well as workers, and prepare a strategy for resolution of their problems.

In this age of information, the SAPM said, social media was a major source of information for the masses, and a social media policy would also be devised after consultation with stakeholders.

In the past, she added, an anti-PTI media campaign was launched by the previous government from public sector funds, and ironically, payment of that media campaign would be made by the present government.

Fake news was a big challenge and help from the media was required to counter it, Awan added.