Provincial Minister for Information and Culture, Punjab, Azma Bokhari, announced strict measures to ensure accountability and transparency within the media sector. Speaking at a seminar, titled “Media Laws, Regulations and Ethics,” held at the Lahore Press Club, she stated that newspapers failing to pay salaries to their employees would not be allowed to continue operations.

Bokhari revealed that the government plans to audit media houses to determine outstanding dues.  She also added that the details of ABC-certified newspapers and the advertisements given to them will be made public.

Addressing the challenges posed by digital platforms, Bokhari also highlighted the establishment of a dedicated cyber wing under the direction of the Chief Minister of Punjab. This unit aims to curb the spread of fake news and tackle abusive behaviour online.

She stressed the need for self-accountability within the media. Bokhari remarked that now anyone who holds a camera says they are a journalist, but there is no clear definition of journalism.