Muzaffarabad: A delegation from the ethics committee of the Azad Kashmir Newspaper Society (AKNS) held a meeting with Inayatullah Khan, the Secretary of Information and Forests for Azad Kashmir. The delegation included the President AKNS, Amjad Chaudhry, the Secretary-General of AKNS, Zahir Jigwal, and former President of the Central Press Club, Syed Afaq Hussain. Raja Shahid Hussain, the Chief Public Relations Officer, and Assistant Director of Advertising, Syed Asif Naqvi were also present on the occasion.
Secretary of Information Inayatullah Khan stated that all legitimate demands of AKNS would be addressed. The process for the payment of remaining expenditures for advertisements in the development budget is underway. Letters are being written from the Secretariat and higher administration levels to all department heads for the settlement of outstanding payments. Additionally, the matter is being pursued with the relevant forum concerning issues related to paper rolls.
Initiatives will be taken to advertise in weekly and fortnightly newspapers that are regularly published. Secretary Inayatullah Khan emphasized that Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq’s government, under the leadership of the present coalition, is taking comprehensive measures to maintain the continuity of the democratic system, strengthen governmental institutions, and promote free journalism. He highlighted the government’s dedication to the welfare and improvement of the journalistic fraternity for the prosperity of society, considering journalism as a sacred profession.
Regarding the payments of advertisement funds in the developmental budget of departmental bodies, Secretary Inayatullah Khan mentioned that the concerned departments’ secretaries would be contacted to resolve the matter. He expressed the commitment to utilize all available means to address the issues of the journalistic fraternity.