PFUJ forms fact-finding committee to ascertain causes of media crisis

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 4 June 2020

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists has formed a committee to investigate the media crisis affecting the country since May 2017. The committee will focus on various issues including layoffs, wage delays, and advertising policies.

Summary

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has constituted a 'Fact-Finding Committee' comprising senior journalists to identify reasons behind the media crisis since May 2017.

A press release said the committee headed by senior journalist Mubarak Zeb Khan would deal with a wide range of issues, including employees' wages downsizing, rightsizing, government and private advertisements, and finding the reasons for the crisis from May 2017 to May 2020.

"The committee would compile data on la-offs in media organizations in each province, collect data on delays in payment of wages; identify reasons for shutting down of TV channels, newspapers, magazines and periodicals and look into the advertising policy of the government and advertising budgets,” PFUJ said.

Journalists including Zulfiqar Ali Metho, Qama Bhatti, Ahmed Khan Malik, Faheem Siddiqui, Waseem Ahmad Shah, Abdul Quddus, Ayub Tareen, Mehtab Haider, and Shahbaz Rana are the committee members.

Shahzada Zulfiqar, President PFUJ, and Nasir Zaidi, Secretary-General in a joint statement, requested all unions of journalists to cooperate in identifying the reasons in the better interest of the media industry.

KEY POINTS:

• PFUJ established a Fact-Finding Committee to address media crisis.
• The committee is headed by senior journalist Mubarak Zeb Khan.
• It will compile data on layoffs and wage issues in media organizations.
• The committee includes notable journalists from various provinces.
• PFUJ has urged journalist unions to cooperate for a comprehensive understanding.