Dawn Media Group Earned Rs860 Million in Government Ads Amid Employee Layoffs, Says Information Minister

Independent Report
Islamabad, December 20 (APP): Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar revealed that Dawn Media Group received approximately Rs860 million in advertisements from federal and provincial governments over the past 13 months.
Speaking to the media, Minister Tarar said the figures are fully documented and can be verified from official records. He noted that while some media outlets receive a larger share of government advertisements, it is crucial for media houses to prioritize corporate governance and financial independence.
“Media organizations should have sustainable business models; relying entirely on government ads is not a viable long-term strategy,” the minister emphasized. He added that although Dawn Media is a major group, employee layoffs have occurred despite significant advertisement revenue, which he described as an internal matter.
Minister Tarar clarified that there is no restriction on issuing government advertisements to Dawn Media Group, and multiple official advertising campaigns are currently underway.