Pakistan Today downsizes paper, cuts jobs amid economic pressures

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 25 November 2013 |  JP Staff Reporter

Pakistan Today has downsized its operations amid financial difficulties, resulting in the termination of around 50 employees. The newspaper is also reducing its physical size from 20 to 12 pages.

Summary

ISLAMABAD: The struggling Pakistan Today has sacked about 50 employees, among them reporters and photographers.

Insiders say those fired worked at the newspapers Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad centers. Some employees of the marketing team were also terminated. There are reports more staff members might be shown the door.

Meanwhile, the management has also decided to reduce the size of the paper from the current 20 pages to 12, a possible indication of the publication edited by Arif Nizami being in deep financial difficulties.

Pakistan Today, launched in 2010 is the first national newspaper published in Berliner format. The paper has faced problems all along with staff salaries often getting delayed and sackings happening at regular intervals.

KEY POINTS:

• Laid off about 50 employees including reporters and photographers.
• Reduced newspaper size from 20 pages to 12.
• Ongoing financial struggles indicated by delayed salaries.
• Additional layoffs may occur in the near future.
• Founded in 2010, Pakistan Today is known for its Berliner format.