Tarar says Rs86 crore worth of government ads given to Dawn Media Group

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 20 December 2025 |  JP Staff Report

Federal Minister Attaullah Tarar said the government spent Rs86 crore on Dawn Media Group advertising over the past 13 months and offered to publicly release the allocation data to show transparency. He said media salaries are borne by private outlets.

Summary

ISLAMABAD — Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar has addressed questions regarding the alleged ban on advertisements to the Dawn Media Group. The minister, speaking to We News, said the government had allocated 86 crore rupees in advertisements to the group over the past 13 months, averaging six and a half crore per month.

Government stance on ad allocations

Tarar highlighted that the government continues to provide advertisements and is ready to share the data publicly to demonstrate transparency. He noted that such allocations are part of standard government practice.

The minister clarified that paying salaries and managing employee expenses is the responsibility of the respective media organizations. He stated that the government cannot assume financial obligations for operational costs within private media groups, including Dawn Media Group.

Dawn Media’s concerns

Earlier, Dawn Media Group claimed that the government had imposed an unannounced ban on advertising to its publications and broadcast outlets, describing the move as punitive and aimed at silencing critical journalism. The group warned that targeting credible news organizations through advertising restrictions could harm Pakistan’s information ecosystem and encourage the spread of unverified content.

Media pressure and editorial warning

The editorial highlighted that government advertising represents a major revenue source for many Pakistani media organizations. Dawn alleged that while its outlets were denied advertising, funds were redirected to smaller publications perceived as supportive of government narratives. Several media associations, including the Council of Newspaper Editors, All Pakistan Newspapers Society, Pakistan Broadcasters Association, and the Joint Action Committee, publicly condemned the restrictions on Dawn’s television and radio operations.

Observers note that debates over government advertising and press independence are ongoing in Pakistan, with transparency in ad allocation being a critical factor in maintaining public trust while ensuring media groups can sustain operations independently.

POSSIBLE WAY FORWARD: Experts suggest that a standardized, transparent framework for government advertisement allocations could help reduce disputes and support both fiscal accountability and editorial independence. Public reporting of allocations may reinforce trust in media institutions and prevent perceived bias.

PHOTO: Associated Press of Pakistan