Outstanding Dues Payment
Letter to editor
Some days back, it was good to read in the newspapers that Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed the Ministries of Information and Broadcasting and Finance to clear outstanding dues of the print media accruing from publication of government advertisements at the earliest.
This was indeed a goodwill gesture on the part of the prime minister aiming at alleviating the financial crisis being faced by the print media for sometime and also to improve much desired and needed good cordial relations with the newspapers and media people .
While duly appreciating this timely goodwill gesture , the kind attention of PM Imran Khan, Advisor on Fiinance Hafeez Shaikh and Special Assistant to the PM on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan is drawn to another important allied problem of payment of long outstanding dues.
It is a well-known fact that a number of freelance journalists and columnists including this poor scribe have been contributing articles and letters to the editor from time to time to various newspapers through Press Information Department (PID).. But they have not been paid timely for their contributions for months together and thousands of thousands of their outstanding dues payment continues to linger on months together causing serious financial problems to them.
If their outstanding dues are paid on due priority basis now they will be able to celebrate auspicious occasion of Eidul Fitr with their families in a more comfortable and satisfying manner, please. Thanks
-M.Z.RIFAT, LAHORE
