APNS Urges Government to Expedite Implementation of Newspaper Advertisement Rate Hike
Independent Report
Islamabad, November 20, 2025: The All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) expressed serious concern over the prolonged delay in implementing the federal government’s decision, announced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, to increase official advertisement rates for newspapers.
APNS highlighted that although the Prime Minister had announced the hike during his previous tenure and reiterated it in the current government, three years have passed without execution, placing the print media industry under severe financial strain.
The APNS Executive Committee, chaired by Senator Sarmad Ali, convened in Lahore to review challenges faced by the print media. The committee urged the Federal Ministry of Information to expedite payments for government advertisements issued between April 2020 and June 2025. Key officials attending the meeting included Punjab Secretary Information Tahir Raza Humdani, DGPR Farid Ahmed, and DG PID Lahore Shafqat Abbas. The committee drew attention to approximately PKR 220 million owed to print media under DGPR’s jurisdiction and expressed concern that an additional PKR 730 million, already received by DGPR, remains unpaid. Payments for fiscal year 2024–25 are also reportedly delayed.
The Punjab Secretary Information assured that payments would be completed by December 2025, with provincial departments actively facilitating the process. Officials indicated that disbursement amounts are undergoing verification and will be released once approved.
The meeting also appreciated the efforts of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Minister of Information Azmi Bukhari, and DGPR in resolving delays related to IPL tenders and strengthening the newspaper payment system.
The committee approved interim accreditations for seven advertising agencies, including Adventure Media Marketing (Islamabad), Cinecast Media (Karachi), and Vision 21 Marketing (Islamabad). Additionally, six agencies were approved for restructuring and name changes.
The Executive Committee members discussed national interest matters during a dinner hosted by Punjab Minister of Information Azmi Bukhari and also met Governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider Khan.
