ALL PAKISTAN
NEWSPAPER SOCIETY
Presented by BISMA IJAZ
The All Pakistan Newspapers
Society is an organization of all
newspaper owners of Pakistan. It
was founded in 1953 by the major,
pioneering editors and publishers
of they day to facilitate the
exchange of views between the
editors of the major publications
of Pakistan and to protect the
rights of newspapers by giving
them a voice to appeal unfair
What is APNS? decisions against them.
Some important questions.
How the press-government conflict got
started in Pakistan after getting freedom?
Why did the newspapers/publications of
the time need a voice?
How PNS came into being?
Why PNS failed?
HISTORY How APNS came into being?
The Pakistan Newspapers Society, a precursor to the APNS, was established in 1950,
primarily due to the efforts of the late Messrs Hameed Nizami and Hamid Mahmood.
This forum was initially established as Pakistan Newspapers Society, as a provincial
body in the early 1950’s primarily because of the efforts of the Hameed Nizami and
Hamid Mahmood7. It functioned in Lahore for a number of years but failed to receive
much support or recognition either from the publishers and adve rtising agencies in
general and the authorities, in power in particular. Publishers' organizations also
functioned in East Pakistan and Karachi but these provincial bodies could not
effectively represent the interests of the newspaper industry.
In the year 1953, it was decided to form the All Pakistan Newspapers Society, merging
all the existing groups of publishers. It was also decided to establish the
headquarters of this organization at Karachi, as at that time the majority of the major
publications originated from there. It took some time to be organized on a
professional basis. A rented premises for the office was obtained in Farid Chambers,
from where it continues to function, paid staff was hired, etc. The organization
expanded rapidly with the inclusion of new members from all over the country and
was soon able to call itself the ALL PAKISTAN NEWSPAPERS SOCIETY.
FOUNDING MEMBERS
HAMEED NIZAMI ALTAF HUSSAIN
NAWAY E WAQT DAWN
The objectives for which APNS was formed are:
to act as the central organization of the newspaper
industry of Pakistan
to encourage, promote and originate the science
and art of journalism and newspaper industry
to produce and publish the necessary literature
to originate and promote improvements in the law,
to watch, protect, preserve and promote the rights
and interest of newspaper industry on matters
directly or indirectly affecting their rights and
interests.
to make rules to govern the conduct of its members
and for accreditation and conduct of business to
HISTORY
provide penalties for the infringements thereof
OBJECTIVES
ROLE OF APNS AND
ACTIONS
The APNS has extended its protective umbrella to
publications from small towns and also to the regional
language press that had enhanced the representative
character of the Society. Over the years the APNS has
grown into a true representative body of newspapers
and magazines all over the country. In 1971 there
were 41 publications on the roll of the Society whereas
in 2020 the number rose to 473.
ROLE AND ACTIONS OF
APNS
The APNS, throughout its history has originated and promoted
improvements in the law and supported or opposed alterations therein.
The Society had launched a protracted struggle against the PPO along
with organizations of editors and journalists. The struggle resulted in the
quashing of this anti-press law and the introduction of relatively better
law in the form of the RPPO. In 1999, the APNS had prepared a set of
press laws including the Draft for the formation of Press Council in
Pakistan, Registration of Printing Presses, Newspapers Ordinance and a
draft Freedom of Information Act. After thorough discussions among
the APNS, CPNE and the Ministry of Information, the drafts on the Press
Council and the Registration of Presses and Newspapers were finalized
and enacted in 2002.
ROLE OF APNS IN RELATION B/W
ADVERTISING AND NEWSPAPER
The significance of this Organization is duly reflected in the
fact that it provides a bridge between the newspapers and the
advertising agencies. It was an accepted reality that the
newspapers and the advertising agencies are the two wheels
of the same carriage and not antagonistic rivals. They
compliment each other and the existence of one is
inextricably linked with that of the other. However, in order to
make the liaison between newspapers and advertising
agencies closer and firmer the APNS had taken positive steps
to consolidate the mutual relationship.
All the publication from dailies to monthlies having regular publication may
become the associate member of APNS, if the publication applies on
prescribed form with specific membership fee and is supported by a two -
third majority of the members present in a vote taken in a secret ballot. If
membership to an applicant publication is denied, it may apply after six
months of rejection with additional information and reasons in support of its
eligibility. Such application shall be considered again for membership by the
executive committee, but the decision of the executive committee on such
second application shall not be appealable. The publication shall have the
right to prefer the General body an appeal within thirty days after the
rejection of application by the executive committee, which shall be considered
at the first meeting held after the appeal is lodged.
The executive committee forms a scrutiny committee. Every year a scrutiny
committee this on its own or on complaint of any member, examines if a
certain member fulfils the criteria and present report to executive
recommending the expulsion of a member for irregular publication. The
executive takes the decision by simple majority, which is appealable in
general, body within 90 days.
The executive committee can take a disciplinary action against a member if the member
fails to pay subscription or charges due from it or commits a breach of discipline or
violates rules or code of standard. Code of standard for acceptance of advertising
business states that members shall take all reasonable precautions to ensure that all
advertising accepted is legal, honest and truthful and that such advertising is in respect
of reputable goods or services, members shall not favour direct advertisers, by giving
them better facilities such as lower rates, longer credit periods, preferential positions,
commission, discounts or supplying art work at nominal rates etc., however 6.25%
discount to direct advertiser and 15% to advertising agencies is permissible. No member
can print the advertisement of a client whose business is suspended by accredited
advertising agency and also the advertisements of suspended advertising agency cannot
be accepted by any member publication of APNS. Executive functions of APNS including
the general management and control of business, conduct of relations with and
between the advertising agencies and member publications and any other institution or
bodies, accreditation of new members and advertising agencies are performed by
executive committee. Executive committee is consisted 25 members. Three seats of the
executive committee are permanently occupied by The Jang, Dawn, and Nawa-i- Waqt
groups of publications. Elections on 21 seats are held among rest of the member
publications of APNS.
AWARDs DISTRIBUTION
Best Column Best Article (English, Urdu, Regional)
Public Service Campaign
Best Feature (English, Urdu, Regional)
Best Investigative Report Product Launch Award
Best Cartoon Best Visual Design
(colour and black and white)
Best Photograph
The founder groups are accused for
bribing the smaller newspapers
and getting benefit at large from
the successive governments.
Under security act, the editor of Pakistan
Times Mazhar Ali Khan and the editor of
Imroz Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi resigned
while the editor of Lailo Nehar Syed Sibte
Hassan was dismissed. All three editors
were arrested also. This was a very
significant event in the press history of the
country which badly impacted the industry
for decades but APNS remained silent of
this onslaught of the press freedom in the
country besides the fact that these papers
were members of APNS.
B XU AR CHI T E CT UR E CL UB | 20 20
During the years 1967-68 APNS did
almost nothing to safe guard the
press freedom so much so that it
remained silent on the arrest of
Shourish Kashmiri and the closure
of his newspaper Chataan by the
government.
CPNE AND APNS have same
owners
B XU AR CHI T E CT UR E CL UB | 20 20
THANK YOU!
