The All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) appreciated the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government for releasing funds to clear outstanding advertisement dues of Rs 40 crores owed to newspapers. APNS in particular appreciated KP Advisor Finance, Muzamil Aslam.

During earlier discussions held in Karachi with Aslam, APNS leadership, including President Sarmad Ali and Vice President Shahab Zuberi, had informed him of the outstanding dues of APNS member publications.

Aslam had assured them that the issue would be resolved on a priority basis and has approved the payment of Rs 80 crores of which Rs.40 crores would be released immediately and the remaining half would be released in June.

Previously, a delegation of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) had also engaged with Aslam who assured them that the longstanding issue of unpaid newspaper advertisement dues would be resolved. He stated that the provincial government would clear the outstanding amount of Rs1.40 billion in two installments.

CPNE had previously filed a writ petition in the Peshawar High Court seeking to recover advertisement dues that had been pending for several years.  The case has been ongoing for the past two years. Due to the delays in payment, the High Court had issued a contempt notice against the Secretary of Finance.