APNS urges PM Shehbaz to clear newspapers’ dues before Eid

ISLAMABAD: The All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) has appealed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to approve the payment of long-pending dues of newspapers before Eid, stating that the delay has pushed media organisations across the country into a severe financial crisis.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, APNS President Sarmad Ali said the payment had already been approved by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) earlier this month but was still awaiting formal approval.

He said the continued non-payment of outstanding dues had created acute financial difficulties for newspaper organisations, leaving them unable to meet essential obligations, including the payment of employees’ salaries ahead of Eid.

According to the APNS president, the financial strain on newspapers has intensified in recent months due to rising inflation and the sharp increase in petroleum prices, which have significantly raised operational costs for media houses.

“The liquidity crunch faced by newspapers has further deepened due to the high cost of living and the unprecedented hike in petroleum prices,” Sarmad Ali said, adding that immediate payment of the outstanding dues would help media organisations manage their financial commitments and provide relief to workers.

He urged the prime minister to formally approve the payment of the pending dues that had already been recommended by the ECC so that newspapers could overcome their liquidity problems.

The APNS expressed confidence that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would personally take notice of the matter and direct the federal cabinet to approve the release of funds at the earliest to ease the financial difficulties faced by newspaper workers before Eid.