ISLAMABAD; Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Atta Tarar has announced that journalists dismissed from private media organizations without prior notice will be reinstated within 48 hours.
Speaking in the National Assembly, he emphasized that protecting the rights of media workers is the government’s top priority.
The minister said that certain media houses had terminated journalists without any notice, which was unacceptable.
He stated that he would take up the matter in a crucial meeting with media owners next week, which will include representatives of the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) and the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS).
Tarar stressed that timely payment of salaries to media workers is mandatory and that the government is committed to ensuring financial and professional stability for media employees.
He added that mechanisms for protecting workers’ rights already exist in print and electronic media, but no such system is currently available for digital media journalists.
The government, he said, is actively considering a framework to address the problems faced by those working in digital journalism.
The minister reaffirmed that the government is already making payments of pending dues to media houses and urged them to ensure the same for their staff.
He also highlighted that the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has a Council of Complaints to address media-related grievances.
Recalling the attack on the National Press Club, Tarar compared it to “an attack on our own home,” adding that discussions with the Interior Ministry were underway and a report on the matter would be submitted soon.
He concluded by stating that all representative journalist bodies are considered “part of his own circle” and assured that the government will guarantee full protection of journalists’ rights across all media sectors.
