APNS, PRA condemn insulting behavior of Caretaker PM Kakar during press conference at PM House & afterwards during informal conversation with media persons

ISLAMABAD, Oct 25 (SABAH): The All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) has expressed great shock at the statement made by Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar against the print media wherein he has stated the business model of print media is flawed and it should not depend on the government for the financial support.

According to the statement issued by Executive Director APNS Dr. Tanvir A. Tahir, APNS expressed great disappointment at these remakes by the Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar against print media while speaking to the media at Islamabad. The prime minister while answering a question on the pending summary of the Ministry of Information for an increase in the government advertisement rates, stated that the print media should change its flawed business model and instead of depending on government funding should generate revenue through its own resources. It appears that the Prime minister is ill-informed about the summary as the print media is not seeking any grant or subsidy from the Government hut on the contrary, newspapers publish government ads at subsidized rates. Government advertising rates are far lower, at about one fourth of commercial rates. The outgoing prime minister Mian Shehbaz Sharif had announced a long pending increase in the government advertisement rates, the summary of which is still lying with the Finance Ministry.

The APNS statement further said that it may also be noted that alarmingly the Federal Government owes almost Rs 2 billion to newspapers towards payment of long outstanding bills. If the respected Prime Minister thinks this business model is flawed, then the print media is prepared to correct the flawed model by withdrawing these subsidized rates being offered to the Government by newspapers.

Meanwhile Parliamentary Reporters Association Pakistan (PRAP) has also condemned the insulting behavior of Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar during press conference at the PM House and afterwards during the informal conversation with the media persons, terming it dictatorial attitude.

President PRAP Usman Khan and Secretary Naveed Akbar Chaudhry said that the way he used his words is condemnable. They said that his behavior was indicative of dictatorial mindset.