Rs 10.8 Billion Given to Media Houses, But Journalists Still Unpaid

Billions Paid to Media Owners, But Journalists Go Unpaid: Senate Committee Slams PID, Demands ITNE Summons

Nadeem Tanoli

Islamabad – The Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting expressed outrage over the massive disparity between government payments to media houses and the persistent non-payment of wages to media workers.

During the meeting, it was revealed that the Press Information Department (PID) disbursed a staggering Rs. 10.8 billion in advertising payments to private media outlets between March 5, 2024, and July 2025, yet nearly 70% of journalists and staff remain unpaid.

Journalists attending the session appealed to the committee, pointing out that despite the flood of public money reaching media owners, the majority of employees continue to suffer in silence. Responding to these concerns, the committee ordered the summoning of the Implementation Tribunal for Newspaper Employees (ITNE) in the next session to address labor rights violations and press the issue of delayed wages.

According to official PID figures:

• Print media received Rs. 3.9 billion — including Rs. 2.3 billion in classified ads and Rs. 1.6 billion in display ads — distributed across 932 newspapers.

• Electronic media received Rs. 6.9 billion — including Rs. 5.7 billion from the Ministry of Information and Rs. 1.2 billion from other federal government departments.

Of the total Rs. 10.8 billion, only Rs. 6 billion has been paid so far, while Rs. 4.8 billion remains outstanding.

Committee members questioned how such huge sums could be released to media companies when a large portion of their workforce hadn’t seen a paycheck in months. “If the purpose of these taxpayer-funded ads is only to serve owners and not workers, then this is a system of exploitation, not support,” remarked one senator.

The meeting also turned sharply critical of PEMRA’s (Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority) failure to regulate indecent content and betting advertisements. Despite a ban, gambling promotions continue during cricket broadcasts, particularly on international feeds, which PEMRA claims are beyond its jurisdiction.

Several members also highlighted the subjective misuse of censorship, noting that while freedom of expression is repeatedly suppressed, offensive and harmful content continues unchecked.

The Committee has demanded a full breakdown of all advertisement disbursements, categorized by media house, and directed the Secretary of Information and Broadcasting to appear in the next session. Lawmakers emphasized that public money must come with public accountability — not selective enrichment.

The meeting concluded with renewed calls for structural reform in media regulation and urgent steps to protect the economic rights of journalists across the country.