JournalismPakistan.com | Published May 19, 2015
Join our WhatsApp channel
KARACHI: Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has warned the government over any move to withdraw notification of Sept 16, 2013 regarding constitution of the Eighth Wage Board or to delay the award.
It also asked the government not to become part of any such move which may cause harm to the Newspaper Employees Conditions of Service Act of 1973.
In a statement, PFUJ President Rana Azeem and Secretary General Mohammad Amin Yousuf said the PFUJ would resist every move to withdraw the notification at the behest of vested interests.
The statement said the people with vested interests are creating hurdles in the functioning of the Wage Board, and that a group of self-styled leaders had become active and was trying to delay the proceedings of the award.
Demanding immediate functioning of the proceedings of the Wage Board, Azeem and Yousuf said the newspaper owners were not cooperating with the honorable judge of the Eighth Wage Board as a result journalists and non-editorial staff had been suffering.
The 8th Wage Board was constituted on Sept 16, 2013, by the government, and was notified in the Gazette of Pakistan to determine the salaries of newspaper employees to meet the price-hike, but the newspaper owners’ body, All-Pakistan Newspapers Society, adopted an irresponsible attitude.
The APNS did not nominate its representatives to the Wage Board, and when the government itself nominated representatives, they disowned them, although the notified people were their immediate office-bearers.
The Sept 16, 2013, notification of the Government of Pakistan in the Gazette of Pakistan had notified names of representatives of newspaper owners and representatives of APNS. They included Sarmad Ali (the then President), Dr Jabbar Khattak, Imtinan Shahid, Masood Hamid, Syed M Munir and Wasim Ahmed. The names from the employees’ side included: Pervez Shaukat (PFUJ), Amin Yousuf (PFUJ), Nasir Naqvi (Lahore), Khalid Mehmood (Rawalpindi), Saleem Shahid (Quetta) and Abdullah Jan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa).
The PFUJ leaders said that journalists in few newspapers, including Dawn, have not been given arrears of 7th Wage Award and they have just been informed that their arrears have been adjusted.
April 30, 2025: Freedom of expression in Pakistan is under threat, as the 2025 Freedom Network report reveals increased arrests, censorship, and legal restrictions following amendments to PECA, posing serious risks to journalists and democratic values.
April 30, 2025: Dawn has criticized the Indian media's calls for war and condemned the banning of 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, urging a rational response after the Pahalgam attack that left 26 dead.
April 28, 2025: India has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including major news outlets and individual journalists, following the deadly Pahalgam attack. Tensions escalate as Islamabad demands a neutral probe.
April 23, 2025: Pakistani journalists respond in unison to a post hinting at a possible Indian military strike. Citing the 2019 ‘Swift Retort,’ they warn of a stronger response if provoked again.
April 21, 2025: After being expelled from PTI, MNA Sher Afzal Marwat launches personal attacks on journalists and Aleema Khan, sparking outrage on social media over his offensive remarks.
April 21, 2025: Journalist Sanaullah Khan reveals that the FIA has launched a financial crackdown on YouTubers by freezing the bank accounts of journalists and their family members—raising serious concerns over freedom of expression and legal process.
April 20, 2025: Dr. Nauman Niaz launched his fifteenth book, In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple and Triple Centuries 1876–2025, at an elegant Islamabad event, reflecting on cricket’s rarest feats and his journey as a scholar of the game.
April 11, 2025: Sindhi journalist AD Shar was brutally murdered in Khairpur, Sindh. His body was found dumped on Handiyari Link Road. PFUJ has declared a three-day mourning period and demanded justice.
April 23, 2025 Discover Dr. Nauman Niaz’s In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple & Triple Centuries 1876–2025, a profound exploration of cricket's most monumental innings, blending historical analysis with poetic narrative.
April 22, 2025 Once a beacon of hope for Pakistan's cricket revival, the Pakistan Super League now grapples with stagnation and moral compromises. Can this cultural symbol reclaim its lost soul?
April 21, 2025 An Italian newspaper, Il Foglio, successfully published a month-long AI-written insert and praised its irony and analytical abilities, while affirming that AI will complement—not replace—quality journalism.
April 03, 2025 The International Press Institute (IPI) and International Media Support (IMS) invite nominations for the 2025 World Press Freedom Hero and Free Media Pioneer Awards. Recognizing courageous journalists and innovative media, the awards will be presented at IPI’s 75th-anniversary World Congress in Vienna. Submit your nominations by April 30, 2025.
April 01, 2025 Photojournalist Suresh Rajak was burned alive while covering a violent protest in Kathmandu. The IFJ and its affiliates condemn the attack and call for an urgent investigation to hold the perpetrators accountable.