Islamabad: Significant details have emerged regarding delayed salary payments and unpaid dues of media workers in Pakistan, according to a written response submitted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in the National Assembly. Official documents reveal that since the implementation of the PEMRA Amendment Act 2023, the Council of Complaints (COC) has received a total of 437 complaints from media employees, of which 393 were filed against M/s Labbaik (Private) Limited, operating BOL News.


Strict Enforcement of Sections 20-A and 20-B of the PEMRA Act

According to the response submitted by the Minister for Information, amendments introduced to the PEMRA Ordinance 2002 through the PEMRA Amendment Act 2023 made ensuring timely salary payments to electronic media employees one of the authority's key responsibilities.

Under Section 20-A of the law, no licensed television channel or radio station is permitted to withhold employees' salaries for more than two months. The law provides for strict disciplinary action against institutions violating this requirement, on the recommendation of the Council of Complaints.


Council of Complaints Decides 407 Cases

According to the documents, the Council of Complaints has taken action to protect media workers' rights. Of the 437 complaints received, final decisions have been issued in 407 cases, while proceedings in the remaining 30 cases are ongoing to ensure that employees receive their due payments as soon as possible.

Apart from BOL News, a total of only 44 complaints were filed against all other satellite television channels in Pakistan.


Recommendation to Suspend Government Advertisements and Commercial Publicity

Under Section 20-B of the law, action has been initiated against channels that have failed to comply with the decisions of the Council of Complaints.

The documents reveal that letters were sent to the federal and provincial governments in November 2024, requesting the suspension of all commercial publicity and government advertisements for M/s Labbaik (Private) Limited, operating BOL News, and M/s Q Communications (Private) Limited, operating LTN Family, across their television and radio services due to non-compliance with the Council's decisions.

The document indicates that, under the law, media organisations that fail to pay their employees' salaries may face economic pressure through the suspension of government advertisements and commercial publicity.