CPNE criticises proposals for advertising policy.

LAHORE -- The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) has opposed the government's proposed advertising policy, terming the state of media freedom in the country alarming.

The CPNE said in a statement after a meeting of its standing committee on Sunday that imposing restrictions on freedom of expression was a violation of basic human rights.

Arif Nizami, the council's president, chaired the meeting.

It expressed reservations over certain proposals for the advertising policy, resolving to come up with its own suggestions for a 'judicious distribution' of advertisements in order to protect regional and small newspapers.

The CPNE called upon the government to do away with restrictions and censorship, whether direct or indirect. It lamented that government advertising for newspapers had stopped altogether, or its quantum had fallen, in Sindh and Balochistan.

Dr Jabbar Khattak, the CPNE's secretary general, said only a handful of newspapers were getting government advertisements.

He stressed the need for an equitable policy for distribution of advertisements.

Participants at the CPNE meeting said the media was grappling with a host of problems, e.g. government interference...