APNS calls on prime minister to rescue regional press

ISLAMABAD—All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) on Thursday appealed to Prime Minister Imran Khan to rescue the regional press, which is fighting for survival and needs government support for rehabilitation.

In an advertisement, APNS said if the regional press shuts down, the government will lose its much-needed connectivity with the people at the grassroots level as the local press is the most important means of communication between the two.

APNS maintained that regional newspapers are the nursery of talent for the national press and have, over the years, nurtured journalists who became big names in the media space.

The ad said in 1983, APNS and the Ministry of Information agreed on an advertising policy that safeguards the interest of the regional press. “A 25% quota of government advertisements for regional newspapers was approved and fixed for government advertising by the federal cabinet. This quota was fixed to safeguard and nurture the regional newspapers so that they can stand on their feet.”

APNS termed the government advertisements “vital” in keeping regional newspapers alive. “In fact, government advertising is their backbone and lifeline. Most of them are today on the verge of shutting down. This will leave thousands of employees jobless which in turn means thousands of families left stranded.”

Source: APNS/JP