New ‘fair’ advertisement policy in the making: adviser

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Adviser to the Sindh Chief Minister on Information and Law, Barrister Murtaza Wahab, said that the new advertising policy is being prepared and it will be brought to the cabinet to make fair distribution of public services.

He said this, chairing All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) meeting on Monday.

Barrister Wahab said like English and Urdu newspapers, local language papers would be provided financial protection and legal proceedings were being made for the cancellation of newspapers without circulation.

“In the past, these dummy newspapers were also obliged with the advertisements. Now and after blacklisting these newspapers, the distribution of advertisements will be transparent,” he said.

Referring to the questions of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society’s representatives, the adviser said, all the newspapers would be paid a pay-off by making a long-term mechanism very soon.

Despite rapid growth of electronic media, provincial adviser, said, the data of print media, newspapers and magazines are still available as a record.

“Keeping the news industry alive, the PPP’s democratic government will bring all resources,” he said, adding that PPP always believe in press freedom. At the meeting, General Secretary APNS, Syed Sarmad Ali, members Javed Shamsi, Younus Mehar and Mangal Das apprised the provincial adviser of the issues related to the newspaper industry. Talking to the media representatives after the meeting, Barrister Wahab said that U-turn of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf would be twisted. “If working for welfare of people and employment of the people is sin, then we are sinners,” he asserted.