RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar Wednesday restrained all media houses and owners from making lay-offs on account of nonpayment of dues by the government.

The Chief Justice was chairing a meeting regarding the release of pending dues to electronic media, which was attended by federal minister for finance, federal minister for information, broadcasting and heritage, minister of information, government of Sindh, federal secretary finance, federal secretary information, and secretaries of information from Sindh and Punjab. The chairman Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) and members of its executive body also participated in the meeting.

The Chief Justice told the participants that the meeting is being conducted in the backdrop of salary issue of media personnel that are not paid monthly salaries by their owners and they are also being deprived of their jobs.

Most of the media houses are trying to shut their businesses on account of non-payment of dues by the federal as well as provincial governments. This issue is connected with survival and sustenance of media workers - right to life - which is a fundamental right of every citizen of Pakistan.

The meeting deliberated upon the issues and discussed in detail different ways and means to resolve them. The meeting decided that the federal government will verify the claims of media houses and suggest a roadmap for release of dues to media houses within a period of four weeks. The governments of Punjab, Sindh and KPK conceded that payment issue will be resolved within four weeks subject to verification of claims.

Meanwhile, the Chief Justice chaired a meeting regarding publicity campaign of donations for Diamer-Bhasha & Mohmand Dams Fund. The meeting was attended by governor State Bank of Pakistan, chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), CEO Media Logic Company and officers of Supreme Court of Pakistan.

The meeting discussed the media strategy for publicity campaign in respect of donations made to Diamer-Bhasha & Mohmand Dams Fund. The meeting was informed that donations are being received by State Bank of Pakistan from people of Pakistan as well as overseas Pakistanis through different modes, i.e, banks, credit card/debit cards, wire transfer system, etc. via website of State Bank of Pakistan, which is fully secure.

The meeting underlined the need for exploring new possible avenues to remove hiccups and hindrances, if any, so as to facilitate donors. The Media Logic Company gave a detailed presentation to the meeting to raise funds and target expatriates for donations. For that purpose, services of digital websites will be hired to raise the funds for this cause.