Attaullah Tarar suspends ads to TV channel after PRA walkout over layoffs

ISLAMABAD – Members of the Parliamentary Reporters Association (PRA) on Monday staged a walkout from the press gallery of the National Assembly in protest against layoffs and delayed salaries at private television channels, prompting immediate intervention by the federal government. The protest drew the attention of lawmakers from both the National Assembly and Senate, after which a delegation led by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar visited the media room to hold discussions with journalists over their concerns. During the National Assembly session, several lawmakers highlighted the challenges being faced by media workers, including job insecurity, unpaid salaries, and financial pressures within the media industry. Senior MQM-P leader Syed Aminul Haq also spoke on the issue and expressed solidarity with affected journalists and media employees. Addressing the House later, Attaullah Tarar said the government had suspended official advertisements to a private television channel that recently terminated around 170 employees. He stated that advertisements would remain halted until the management provided an explanation regarding the dismissals and efforts were made to resolve the dispute. The information minister also addressed concerns regarding another television network facing financial difficulties. He informed journalists that government advertisements for the channel had been restored and expressed hope that issues related to its affiliated newspaper would also be settled soon. Tarar further revealed that the management of another television channel, accused of withholding employees’ salaries for the past three months, had been summoned to Islamabad for discussions. He urged media owners to engage in dialogue with employees to reach fair settlements, stressing that excessive workload and financial pressure on junior staff members were unacceptable. The minister said the government was willing to facilitate mediation if requested by both parties. “Our for