Journalists’ Union Condemns Non-Payment of Salaries at Pakistan’s News One TV

Lahore:
The Punjab Union of Journalists (PUJ) has expressed serious concern over the non-payment of salaries for the past three months to employees of News One TV’s Lahore office, urging the management to release pending payments immediately.

In a joint statement, PUJ President Naeem Hanif, General Secretary Qamar-ul-Zaman Bhatti, Senior Vice President Yousaf Raza Abbasi, Vice President Nadeem Zaeem, Joint Secretary Mudassar Hussain Tatla, Treasurer Naseem Qureshi, and other members of the executive council said that media workers across Pakistan are facing severe financial hardships amid worsening conditions in the industry.

They noted that while issues such as press freedom and restrictive laws like the PECA Act dominate the national discourse, many media owners continue to receive billions in government advertising revenue while failing to ensure timely payment to their employees.

PUJ President Naeem Hanif said that News One’s July salaries were paid only in September, while August and September payments remain pending, even as the month of October nears its end.

He urged the channel’s management to prioritize the welfare of journalists and uphold its financial obligations.

PUJ General Secretary Qamar-ul-Zaman Bhatti criticized media proprietors who “run their other business ventures profitably but neglect the journalists and staff who power their media operations.” He warned that if salaries are not released soon, the union will stage a strong protest outside News One’s Lahore office.

The statement reflects growing frustration among Pakistan’s media workers, who have faced delayed payments, layoffs, and increased restrictions on press freedom amid a challenging economic climate for the country’s news industry.