On June 12, the Punjab government introduced a new bill aimed at regulating the dissemination of information and awareness campaigns regarding government projects and initiatives. Titled the Punjab Public Awareness and Dissemination of Information Bill 2025, the proposed legislation was tabled in the Punjab Assembly by Information Minister Azma Bokhari. The Panel of Chairperson Samiullah Khan referred the bill to the relevant standing committee, directing it to present its report within a month.
According to the bill, all public awareness campaigns launched by the government or a public body since January 1, 2024, shall be deemed valid under the new legislation. It authorises the government to name, rename, or alter the title of any public project and permits the execution of campaigns through various media platforms including billboards, television, print, radio, cinema, digital, and others.
The draft law empowers the government to engage celebrities, sports personalities, scholars, or academicians to promote public awareness campaigns. The parameters outlined in the bill for such campaigns include information about the project’s proponent, significance, estimated funding, total cost, and completion timeline.
Under the legislation, the Director General Public Relations (DGPR) will be responsible for executing these campaigns, while only pre-qualified advertising agencies will be eligible for the assignments. Complaints regarding any action under the Act can be filed with the DGPR, with an option to appeal to the Punjab information department secretary within 30 days.
The proposed law also bars jurisdiction of any court, including civil courts, over matters arising under the Act. It further grants indemnity to government officials acting in good faith under the legislation.
Speaking to Dawn, Information Minister Azma Bokhari dismissed concerns that the bill was aimed at curbing press freedom. She stated the legislation simply provides a structured mechanism to inform the public about government initiatives. Addressing criticism regarding the use of pictures of political figures on government schemes, she said, “If Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has taken an initiative and spent billions of rupees, why should there not be a picture of the chief minister.”
However, the bill has sparked strong criticism from journalist bodies and opposition parties.
The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) have rejected the bill. CPNE President Kazam Khan said the legislation attempts to legitimize the use of public funds for political promotions and could restrict judicial oversight. “The proposed law, after enactment, will allow the rulers to use public money for political gains and even launch unelected politicians’ advertisement campaigns,” he stated.
Khan also raised concerns over the bill’s retrospective effect from January 1, 2024, a period which partially includes the caretaker government’s tenure. He questioned the neutrality of allowing the DGPR to adjudicate complaints related to its own decisions, followed by appeals to the information secretary, who is part of the same administrative setup.
“The proposed law embodies classic censorship, stripping citizens of their right to question. Appeals against government campaigns will ironically be adjudicated by government officials themselves – a clear conflict of interest. The implications speak for themselves,” he added.
PTI Punjab also condemned the bill, calling it an attempt by the Maryam Nawaz-led government to centralise control over government-funded advertisements. In a statement on Friday, the party said the bill places billions of taxpayers’ rupees beyond judicial scrutiny.
“The bill dangerously empowers the information secretary with unchecked authority to approve government advertisement campaigns, placing billions of taxpayers’ rupees beyond judicial oversight, including the Supreme Court. This blatant move seeks to deny the public their fundamental right to question how their money is spent,” the party stated.
PTI alleged that the bill’s timing coincides with increasing allegations of misuse of development funds and public money. The party maintained that instead of promoting transparency, the government is using legislative measures to influence public perception and reward loyalists.
