Govt approves policies to support print media

ISLAMABAD:

Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has disclosed that the government has approved a policy for the distribution of advertisements to digital media.

Addressing to standing committee meeting of the Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors (CPNE) on Friday, the federal minister said the emergence of digital media cannot undermine the importance of print media.

"I believe in newspapers. The survival of the society is linked to the survival of newspapers," he stressed, adding that while digital media was popular, it was free from any editorial control.

Pointing out a need for a new infrastructure to revive print media, he said the government needed guidance from CPNE in this regard.

"We cannot forget print media and focus solely on digital. Digital media advertising policies have been approved, and now newspapers' digital versions will also receive ads from both the government and private sectors," he shared.

As per the policy, the government and the private sector will be able to distribute ads to the digital vision of the newspapers.

He said the government had paid Rs2 billion in outstanding dues to newspapers over the last two years and would release an additional Rs2 billion.

Addressing journalist protection, Tarar said it was his top priority, mentioning that the appointment of a chairperson for the Journalist Protection Authority would be finalised soon.

The standing committee meeting of CPNE was held under the chair of Irshad Ahmed Arif. The meeting was attended by CPNE Secretary General Aijazul Haq, Vice President Anwar Sajidi, Ayaz Khan, Kazim Khan and the office bearer as well as members.