This commission holds that requested information about certified list of All Pakistan Daily Newspapers including weekly Newspaper/ Magazines, Fortnightly and monthlies, who obtained valid ABC Certificate with detailed information of each newspaper, magazine, fortnightly and monthly, along with name of newspaper, magazines, fortnightly and monthly; name of printing press with address; daily circulation as per ABC Certificate (Per day publishing copy) and the rate of commission is not hit by any of the exemption clauses of the Act, 2017.
The disclosure of circulation figures and rate of commission paid is intrinsically linked with both the citizens’ right of access to information in matters of public importance as well as with the legitimate commercial interests of media entities. The disclosure of this information will reveal how effectively public funds are utilized to disseminate information through advertisements. When public funds are used to disseminate message of the government by placing advertisements, every effort should be made to disseminate the message far and wide through proper placement of advertisements based on the available public funds. It is responsibility of the public officials to get the best value of the public money and citizens have the right to know how public officials are ensuring the value of public money spent through media campaigns of the government meant for general public.
It is unfathomable as to how audit procedure will be compromised as media entities who get public funds go through such an audit. If numbers of circulations and commission rates paid to a particular media entity are disclosed, the entire process of the utilization of public funds through advertisements would become transparent, for anyone to see including all media entities and citizens of Pakistan would know what media entity gets how much public funds based on their level of outreach etc. In short, the disclosure of information as to how audit of circulation is determined and rates of commission are fixed will not only protect and promote citizens’ right of access to information but will also protect legitimate commercial interests of media entities.
Rumours-mongers have field day when certified information is not available and same is the case with regard to utilization of public funds to disseminate information through advertisements placed in different newspapers by government. No matter how unfortunate it may be, rumours are in abundance that some shady individuals in cahoots with public officials get public funds released for dummy newspapers, giving a bad name to honest and hard-working officials of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Greater level of disclosure of information pertaining to utilization of public funds is the best antidote for the wide-spread malady of rumours-mongering, calling into question integrity of public officials.