ISLAMABAD: (DNA) – Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said Prime Minister Imran Khan issued directives for immediate release of outstanding dues to media houses.

In a video statement on Monday,the minister said that the premier chaired a meeting on media affairs, in which provincial ministers were also in attendance.

Fawad went on to say that the decision regarding outstanding dues would have positive impacts on the media industry and would help stop sacking of employees by owners of some media houses.

He added that previous governments had used advertisements as a political tool, however, they  had no intention to do so.

Moreover, a merit-based policy was being devised to bring an end to the government’s control over the release of official advertisements, he shared in the videotaped statement.

Fawad also said that the steps of the last Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government had a detrimental effect on the media industry, “The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) dispensation was against issuance of advertisements for political gains.”