Prime Minister announces Rs 50 million for APNS office building

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday agreed in principle to the demand for upward revision in the tariff (rates) of government advertisements in newspapers, besides, announcing Rs 50 million grant for the construction of the office building of All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) in Karachi.
He also announced provision of a plot for APNS office in Islamabad, as well as resolving the issues pertaining to the outstanding dues and liabilities of government advertisement, with particular reference to the payments of departments and ministries devolved to provinces after the 18th Amendment.
The announcements, hailed by the APNS President and all members of the Executive Committee as "unprecedented," were made by the Prime Minister during his meeting with a delegation of the Executive Committee of APNS led by its President Hameed Haroon here at the PM House on Monday.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira, Secretary Information Taimur Azmat Usman and senior officials were also present in the meeting. The Prime Minister, responding to the proposals presented by APNS President Hameed Haroon for further strengthening the newspaper industry in the country, agreed in principle to the revision in rates of public sector advertisements from July 1, 2011.
The revised rates would be worked out by the Information Ministry in consultation with APNS, he added. Gilani said the Capital Development Authority (CDA) will allot a plot for APNS at Zero Point, Islamabad. He also announced Rs 50 million grant, to be disbursed in two instalments of Rs 25 million each, for the construction of APNS office building in Karachi.
The Prime Minister said he will visit Karachi for the laying of the foundation of APNS building in Karachi. With regard to the dues and liabilities of the government advertisements pertaining to the ministries and divisions devolved to provinces after the 18th Constitutional Amendment, the Prime Minister announced that the federal government will pay and clear such dues.
He also agreed to the proposal that outstanding payments of government advertisement worth Rs 450 million would be cleared through the support of APNS, to ensure transparency. About the formation of Press Council, which would facilitate implementation of the code of conduct for print media, the Prime Minister said it would be announced within a month. Regarding the Freedom of Information Act, the Prime Minister said, it would be finalised after reaching consensus among the political forces in the parliament.
Responding to a question about the agenda proposed by PML-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif at a press conference, Gilani reiterated the government's resolve to address the challenges faced by the country including poverty, energy crisis, terrorism and extremism, etc, by following the policy of reconciliation and taking all political forces on board.
Earlier, in his opening remarks, the Prime Minister said as a high level body of newspaper owners and editors, APNS has played an important and historic role for revival of democracy and freedom of press.
Minister for Information Qamar Zaman Kaira in his brief remarks on the occasion thanked the Prime Minister for accepting and giving due consideration to the APNS proposals. APNS President Hameed Haroon in his remarks spoke of the problems of media, particularly the problems faced by print media and extended various proposals. Secretary General APNS Sarmad Ali while speaking on the occasion thanked the Prime Minister for the announcements and termed these as `unprecedented' and `historic' in the history of APNS.
Other members of the APNS delegation on this occasion also extended their suggestions for promotion and development of media industry in the country particularly print media. They were of the view that the government should also take steps for strengthening and promoting regional newspapers across the country. The Prime Minister on the occasion was also invited to attend the Convention of Regional Newspapers at Lahore.