Pakistan media crisis deepens as RIUJ demands action over unpaid salaries at major TV channels

Pakistan’s worsening media crisis has come under fresh spotlight after the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists wrote a formal letter to Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, urging immediate action against several television channels accused of failing to pay salaries to their employees.

In the letter dated March 11, the journalists’ body warned that hundreds of media workers are facing severe financial distress as salaries remain unpaid for months, even as the country approaches Eid al-Fitr.

Multiple TV channels are named

According to the union’s audit, several major media organizations have reportedly failed to clear salaries for their staff.

The channels mentioned include:

• Neo News – three months of salaries unpaid for many employees.

• Aik News – January and February salaries pending for several staff members.

• Abb Takk News – February salary unpaid, while January was cleared after a long delay.

• Sunno News – February salary pending, with January paid late.

• Aaj News – January and February salaries still pending for a large portion of staff.

• BOL News – February salaries not yet released.

• 365 News – February salary pending, while January was recently paid.

Media crisis hitting workers and owners alike

Industry observers say the crisis reflects the worst financial phase in Pakistan’s media industry, where both journalists and media owners are struggling to keep operations running.

Advertising revenues have shrunk, operational costs have increased, and several media houses are reportedly operating under severe financial pressure.

However, critics say one issue continues to fuel frustration within newsrooms.

Million-rupee anchor salaries under scrutiny

Despite the financial crisis, many high-profile television anchors are reportedly reluctant to reduce their multi-million-rupee monthly packages, even as media workers go months without salaries.

Several journalists argue that meaningful cost-cutting must start from the top.

“Media houses are collapsing, employees are struggling to pay bills, yet star anchors are unwilling to reduce their packages,” a senior journalist said.

Some insiders say the situation has reached a point where anchors appear willing to see channels shut down rather than agree to cuts in their perks and privileges.

RIUJ calls for government intervention

The RIUJ has urged the government to intervene immediately and ensure that media houses clear all pending salaries before Eid.

The union also suggested linking the release of government advertisement payments to the verified clearance of staff salaries and issuing official notices to channels that fail to meet their obligations.

RIUJ President Asif Bashir Chaudhry said decisive action is needed to end what he described as the economic exploitation of media workers, warning that the credibility of the country’s media industry is at stake if the crisis continues unchecked.