Journalists in Karachi are facing financial struggles as media houses like Jang, Nai Baat, Ummat, and Ek News delay salary payments. KUJ Dastoor demands urgent government intervention and threatens protests if the issue is not resolved before Eid.
- KUJ Dastoor Urges Government Action Against Defaulting Media Houses
- Journalists Struggle During Ramadan Amid Financial Hardships
- Protests Planned if Salaries Remain Unpaid Before Eid
KARACHI: The Karachi Union of Journalists (Dastoor) has strongly condemned the prolonged non-payment of salaries to journalists working in various media houses, including Jang, Nai Baat, Ummat, and Ek News. KUJ Dastoor President Hamidur Rehman and Secretary Syed Nabil Akhtar have demanded immediate salary restoration, urging the federal and provincial information ministries, as well as the chairman of PEMRA, to intervene in the matter.
The KUJ Dastoor leaders warned of protests outside the offices of these media houses if the issue is not resolved urgently. They highlighted the financial distress journalists are facing, especially during the holy month of Ramadan. “Due to salary delays, media workers are struggling with basic necessities like sehr and iftar. Paying children’s school fees and house rent has become increasingly difficult,” they stated.
Call for Government Action
The union also reminded the government of its own directive, which links government advertisements to the timely payment of employee salaries. They urged the federal and provincial ministries to strictly enforce this policy and exert pressure on defaulting media organizations to clear pending payments without further delay.
“Instead of providing additional facilities to employees in Ramadan, these institutions have withheld salaries for two months, exacerbating the financial crisis for journalists and their families,” said the KUJ leaders.
Planned Protests if Salaries Remain Unpaid
KUJ Dastoor made it clear that if salaries are not disbursed before the end of Ramadan, they will stage protests outside the offices of the concerned media houses. The leaders emphasized that journalists dedicate their lives to reporting truth and keeping the public informed, yet they are being deprived of their basic financial rights.
The delay in salary payments is a recurring issue in Pakistan’s media industry, often leaving journalists in financial distress. The KUJ Dastoor’s strong stance aims to push authorities and media owners to take responsibility for their employees’ livelihoods.
As Ramadan continues, affected journalists hope that media house managements and government officials will take swift action to resolve the crisis and ensure that salaries are paid on time.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.