ISLAMABAD: The All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) has expressed its grave concern over the government\u2019s decision to form a \u201ccontent committee\u201d for prior approval of all advertisements to be released to media.<\/p>\n

In a statement, the APNS has \u201cdeplored\u201d that Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry has formed the committee \u201cheaded by himself\u201d to monitor and approve \u201crelease of advertisements by the provincial and federal governments\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe APNS considers this as a surgical strike which would perish the independence and viability of media and would be used as a lever to curb press freedom in the country,\u201d says the statement. \u201cThe action is contrary to the assurances of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government for not only upholding press freedoms but also on devolution of power to provincial and district level.\u201d<\/p>\n

The APNS regrets that through this action, the federal government has initiated \u201ca policy to control print and electronic media\u201d through over centralisation of advertisements which is the backbone of the media\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe APNS believes that this is actually an encroachment on the powers vested in the provinces under the constitution,\u201d it says, adding that the APNS has questioned the intention of the federal government as to whether it actually believes in devolution of power or not.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe APNS is of the considered view that only a financially and vibrant media can perform the role of a free and objective watchdog of the interests of the people and safeguard democratic norms in the country,\u201d it says.<\/p>\n

It says that ever since the induction of the PTI government, the quantum of the advertisements released by the federal and provincial governments has drastically declined, causing acute financial crunch and dent to the economy of newspapers, particularly the regional and smaller press.<\/p>\n

Dawn<\/a><\/p>\n

Related Stories<\/strong><\/p>\n

The News International: Govt\u2019s ad measure a \u2018surgical strike\u2019 on media viability: APNS<\/a><\/p>\n

Business Recorder: APNS voices concern over formation of \u2018content committee\u2019\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n