ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani issued a cheque worth Rs300 million to the All-Pakistan Newspaper Society (APNS) on Saturday.
The premier has issued this grant-in-aid to rescue the newspaper industry from crisis and for the welfare of those employed by the industry, said Information Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan.
The APNS will decide how to utilise this aid, she said, adding that the association will be bound to submit details of the expenses incurred to the government.
The funds can be used to assist defaulting newspapers and news agencies, she said. When asked if the funds can be used to reimburse for advertisements, she said it is quite possible that it would be used for reimbursements.
APNS President Hameed Haroon said that funds released by the prime minster will be used to bail out small newspapers and save advertising agencies that are defaulting.
Haroon said these funds have no connection with the previous grant.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 25th, 2012.
COMMENTS (1)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
Public money to bail out private businesses?