Pakistan's print media sector is facing a mounting liquidity crisis, with the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) urging immediate government action to resolve delayed payments that have crippled regional newspapers. Main Developments During a July 14 meeting in Islamabad, the APNS Regional Press Committee, chaired by Muhammad Humayun Gulzar, highlighted systemic payment delays from federal government departments. Members noted that outstanding dues have accumulated over a considerable period, causing severe financial strain on the print industry. The committee demanded the abolition of the current centralized government advertising policy, calling for a return to the earlier system where client departments could directly recommend preferred media outlets. Such a change, they argued, would boost advertisement volumes for newspapers while giving the Press Information Department (PID) greater flexibility in ad placement. Read also: Sahiwal Coal Plant Called CPEC Energy Success Model Background APNS has long advocated for financial sustainability in print media, with payment delays being a recurring issue. The society previously pushed for decentralization of advertising decisions, but the current policy centralizes approvals, leaving regional newspapers particularly vulnerable. Key APNS figures present at the meeting included President Senator Sarmad Ali, Secretary General Muhammad Athar Kazi, and Vice President Shahab Zuberi. The committee also urged empowering PID regional offices in Karachi, Hyderabad, Quetta, Lahore, and Peshawar, and demanded an end to the practice of central-level alterations to media recommendations made by these offices. Why It Matters Without timely payments, regional newspapers—already operating on thin margins—face existential threats. The current uncertain payment mechanism undermines journalistic independence and could lead to widespread closures, reducing media diversity in smaller cities. Centralized ad policies also limit local outlets' ability to serve community-specific advertising needs. What's Next The APNS committee demanded simplification of newspaper declaration renewal procedures and transfer of declarations after a publisher's death. These procedural reforms, if implemented, could ease operational burdens. However, no specific timeline for government action was announced, leaving the industry awaiting a formal response from the PID and federal departments. The meeting concluded with expressions of grief over the deaths of relatives of Munir Jillani, Qazi Imtiaz, and Noorullah Malik.