On July 25, the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) Punjab Recovery Committee held a meeting in Lahore to discuss outstanding payments to the print media, with Director General Public Relations (DGPR) Punjab, Ghulam Sagheer Shahid, attending as a key participant. The session was chaired by Mohsin Mumtaz.
DGPR Ghulam Sagheer Shahid stated that the Punjab government, under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Information Minister Azma Bukhari, is committed to public engagement through consistent awareness campaigns. “Awareness campaigns will continue consistently for uplifting the people of Punjab,” he noted during the session.
Opening the meeting, Chairman Mohsin Mumtaz lauded the Punjab government’s initiatives and acknowledged the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Minister Azma Bukhari. He emphasized the importance of settling financial matters with media outlets.
Finance Secretary APNS, Naveed Kashif, shared that notable progress had been made in the last ten months, with significant payments disbursed by DGPR Punjab. He described these payments as a source of encouragement for the print media industry.
Khabrain’s Chief Editor, Imtinan Shahid, commended the efforts of the Information Minister and DGPR, saying that the DGPR Punjab has successfully projected a strong and dynamic image of the Punjab government across all provinces.
Usman Shami, Editor of Daily Pakistan, acknowledged the government’s role in media support and emphasized the need for continued efforts. “There is no doubt the Punjab government has taken a leading role in development, and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz rightfully deserves commendation,” he said. “Timely payments to the print media will breathe new life into the fading spirit of journalism.”
Participants in the meeting included Munir Gilani (Pegham), Noorullah (Jang), Imran Raza (Dawn), and Imran Athar (Jurat). Observers present were Bilal Mehmood (Nawa-i-Waqt), Furqan Hashmi (Khabrain), and Muhammad Farooq (Pakistan).
Meanwhile, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi congratulated the newly elected president Ashraf Dar and office bearers of the All Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Newspapers Society. In an official message, he affirmed the role of journalists in a democratic society.
The statement emphasized that a free and responsible press is the cornerstone of democratic societies, and the role of the journalist community in this regard is highly commendable. Governor Kundi expressed confidence in the new cabinet’s ability to address media challenges and uphold journalistic standards.
He added that the Pakistan Peoples Party has consistently stood for media freedom and the rights of working journalists and expressed hope that the new leadership would advance the welfare of media workers.
