News agencies in Pakistan

News Network International (NNI)

Beginning of a new Era

	News Network International (NNI) is the Pakistan 's oldest recognized news agency, founded in 1992 by late Hafiz Abdul Khaliq. 

Today, the Agency continues to expand its operations worldwide, reaching thousands of subscribers via radio, television, newspapers and companies from its main headquarter in Islamabad as well as Bureau offices in Peshawar, Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Quetta, Karachi and regional offices in Gilgat, Muzzafarabad, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Kasur, Vehari, Mailsi, Hyderabad and Sukkhur. From all such stations top quality national and international news service is being provided according to the specific needs of NNI' clients.

Founder: Hafiz Abdul Khaliq

	Late Hafiz Abdul Khaliq started his journalistic career from a suburb vicinity of the country known as Chandiwal, District Khenewal, Punjab who became precedent in the realm of journalism because of his God gifted ability and dynamic personality.

After his graduation, Mr. Khaliq joined the journalism and grasped over the issues related to politics, economics, human rights and social subjects because of his instinctive capability to comprehend the root cause of an issue and unquestionable ability to resolve it. As a reporter for local Urdu Daily of Vehari, "INSANIYAT" from where shortly Pakistan 's prominent Urdu Daily, the "NAWA-I-WAQT appointed him District Correspondent. Soon after he accepted the offer of Urdu daily ‘JESSARAT' to work as Bureau Chief of Multan then Bureau Chief of the Punjab 's Capital Lahore for the same daily. Hafiz Abdul Khaliq later came to Islamabad as the editor of the Capital's first Urdu Daily the "MARKAZ" whereas he also represented Weekly "TAKBEER" Karachi and the Weekly "HURMAT" of Islamabad during this period. Islamabad fully recognized Hafiz Abdul Khaliq's professional skills he soon became a known figure in the official, political, business and trade circles of the Capital of Pakistan. This was the best of the time which helped Hafiz Abdul Khaliq to line up the formation of NNI in 1992, when the founder worked so hard and almost twenty hours a day to develop and set the news agency on sound footings that it had a telling effect on his health and he became the victim of cancer, the incurable disease till date. NNI salutes the persistent efforts of its founder because of him the news agency became so well known to the journalistic world that in a record time. On the 4th of July 1999 when this great personality of the Journalistic world breathed his last, NNI was a well-established organization. Presently, Ammar Khaliq determined to carry on his father' mission by producing accurate and timely news stories to subscribers with the help of his team members professionally.

Quality of Service

	More than one decade of experience in the domain of journalism has made the NNI more confident to deliver its excellent service by breaking news from around the country round the clock.

Consequently, the Agency has been recognized by its clients due to its standing on the repute of reliability and quality since its establishment NNI delivering its news service to a total of 300 national and regional newspapers, published in English, Urdu, Pushtu, Saraiki and Sindhi languages, whereas the Agency has subscribers in America, Europe, Far East, South Asia, Central Asia, Gulf and the Middle East as well. The news network eagerness to express swiftly and exactly most up-to-dated news by covering the subjects related to economic, financial, political, education, social, culture, sports, entertainment, oil & gas, means of communications, science and technology, Lower House and Upper House as well as Apex court proceedings has increased the size of its credentials among its partners.

Services Offered

	News: 

The news agency providing news service to national and international dailies, weekly, fortnightly and monthly newspapers publishing in English, Urdu, Pushtu, Saraiki and Sindhi languages whereas the same service also is being provided to the national and international electronic media. Photo Service: NNI launched its electronic photo service in early 2003 which successfully releasing news pictures via email by ensuring speedy transmission of photos to its subscribers. Website: NNI's Website ( www.nni-news.com.pk ) daily attracting more readers and number of viewers, growing with a fast pace. As many as 1943 viewers have been recorded daily around the world. The Website Edition is updated daily at 9:00 am PST , but in near future we are seeking for the live update of our site. The Largest News Network: NNI has become the largest reporting network in Pakistan because a total of 1250 professional correspondents, reporters and stringers of the agency filing news stories and articles by answering the 5 Ws and 1H of any event efficiently from all towns, Tehsils, Districts and provincial head quarters. Methodology: All the received matter is edited and translated by a proficient team of subeditors rapidly and the communication wing of the agency transmits it to the subscribers. Besides, the reporters in regional offices as well as overseas correspondents file stories immediately to the regional office and Head office respectively.

Looking Ahead!

	•	To following the overseas network expansion policy NNI has decided to appoint correspondents as well as broaden its subscriber' portfolio internationally. 

• After experiencing to broadcast Bussiness Update from Pakistan Broad Casting Corporation, the Agency working for launching a business news production house in the Head quarter very soon. • By sustaining its independence, NNI leadership has planned to establish ‘Public Relations' departments in the agency shortly from where the different organizations would be linkage through providing outsource facility in the light of their needs by sharing Agency' experience. • To setup a training institute for proper training of the new comers in the field of journalism so that proficient journalists should be introduce in the growing market.

Awards & Recognitions

	1.	1993: From National Assembly Cabinet Restored by the Supreme Court orders with compliments of Speaker National Assembly Gohar Ayub Khan, the Award for the best media covering of the issue was conferred. 

2. From Pakistan Education Center at Doha , Qatar for best coverage report. 3. Award by Editor's Round Table on development of Journalism in 1995 in 4. Abbotabad organized by Rawalpindi Press Club, AIOU and UNICEF. 5. Award on Annual Day of Pakistan Air Force in 1996 for best coverage. 6. Award on the occasion of ground breaking ceremony of Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway in 1997 by NHA. 7. Best Performance Award as News Agency in Pakistan by Jashan-e-Quaid-e-Azam awards Ceremony held in Dubai , December 1998 conducted by Daily Nawi-e-Waqt. 8. Award by the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) in 1998 at Rawalpindi . 9. Youm-e-Takber Chagi Cup in 1999 under Pakistan Sports Board Control.

Beginning of a new Era

	News Network International (NNI) is the Pakistan 's oldest recognized news agency, founded in 1992 by late Hafiz Abdul Khaliq. 

Today, the Agency continues to expand its operations worldwide, reaching thousands of subscribers via radio, television, newspapers and companies from its main headquarter in Islamabad as well as Bureau offices in Peshawar, Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Quetta, Karachi and regional offices in Gilgat, Muzzafarabad, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Kasur, Vehari, Mailsi, Hyderabad and Sukkhur. From all such stations top quality national and international news service is being provided according to the specific needs of NNI' clients.

Founder: Hafiz Abdul Khaliq

	Late Hafiz Abdul Khaliq started his journalistic career from a suburb vicinity of the country known as Chandiwal, District Khenewal, Punjab who became precedent in the realm of journalism because of his God gifted ability and dynamic personality.

After his graduation, Mr. Khaliq joined the journalism and grasped over the issues related to politics, economics, human rights and social subjects because of his instinctive capability to comprehend the root cause of an issue and unquestionable ability to resolve it. As a reporter for local Urdu Daily of Vehari, "INSANIYAT" from where shortly Pakistan 's prominent Urdu Daily, the "NAWA-I-WAQT appointed him District Correspondent. Soon after he accepted the offer of Urdu daily ‘JESSARAT' to work as Bureau Chief of Multan then Bureau Chief of the Punjab 's Capital Lahore for the same daily. Hafiz Abdul Khaliq later came to Islamabad as the editor of the Capital's first Urdu Daily the "MARKAZ" whereas he also represented Weekly "TAKBEER" Karachi and the Weekly "HURMAT" of Islamabad during this period. Islamabad fully recognized Hafiz Abdul Khaliq's professional skills he soon became a known figure in the official, political, business and trade circles of the Capital of Pakistan. This was the best of the time which helped Hafiz Abdul Khaliq to line up the formation of NNI in 1992, when the founder worked so hard and almost twenty hours a day to develop and set the news agency on sound footings that it had a telling effect on his health and he became the victim of cancer, the incurable disease till date. NNI salutes the persistent efforts of its founder because of him the news agency became so well known to the journalistic world that in a record time. On the 4th of July 1999 when this great personality of the Journalistic world breathed his last, NNI was a well-established organization. Presently, Ammar Khaliq determined to carry on his father' mission by producing accurate and timely news stories to subscribers with the help of his team members professionally.

Quality of Service

	More than one decade of experience in the domain of journalism has made the NNI more confident to deliver its excellent service by breaking news from around the country round the clock.

Consequently, the Agency has been recognized by its clients due to its standing on the repute of reliability and quality since its establishment NNI delivering its news service to a total of 300 national and regional newspapers, published in English, Urdu, Pushtu, Saraiki and Sindhi languages, whereas the Agency has subscribers in America, Europe, Far East, South Asia, Central Asia, Gulf and the Middle East as well. The news network eagerness to express swiftly and exactly most up-to-dated news by covering the subjects related to economic, financial, political, education, social, culture, sports, entertainment, oil & gas, means of communications, science and technology, Lower House and Upper House as well as Apex court proceedings has increased the size of its credentials among its partners.

Services Offered

	News: 

The news agency providing news service to national and international dailies, weekly, fortnightly and monthly newspapers publishing in English, Urdu, Pushtu, Saraiki and Sindhi languages whereas the same service also is being provided to the national and international electronic media. Photo Service: NNI launched its electronic photo service in early 2003 which successfully releasing news pictures via email by ensuring speedy transmission of photos to its subscribers. Website: NNI's Website ( www.nni-news.com.pk ) daily attracting more readers and number of viewers, growing with a fast pace. As many as 1943 viewers have been recorded daily around the world. The Website Edition is updated daily at 9:00 am PST , but in near future we are seeking for the live update of our site. The Largest News Network: NNI has become the largest reporting network in Pakistan because a total of 1250 professional correspondents, reporters and stringers of the agency filing news stories and articles by answering the 5 Ws and 1H of any event efficiently from all towns, Tehsils, Districts and provincial head quarters. Methodology: All the received matter is edited and translated by a proficient team of subeditors rapidly and the communication wing of the agency transmits it to the subscribers. Besides, the reporters in regional offices as well as overseas correspondents file stories immediately to the regional office and Head office respectively.

Looking Ahead!

	•	To following the overseas network expansion policy NNI has decided to appoint correspondents as well as broaden its subscriber' portfolio internationally. 

• After experiencing to broadcast Bussiness Update from Pakistan Broad Casting Corporation, the Agency working for launching a business news production house in the Head quarter very soon. • By sustaining its independence, NNI leadership has planned to establish ‘Public Relations' departments in the agency shortly from where the different organizations would be linkage through providing outsource facility in the light of their needs by sharing Agency' experience. • To setup a training institute for proper training of the new comers in the field of journalism so that proficient journalists should be introduce in the growing market.

Awards & Recognitions

	1.	1993: From National Assembly Cabinet Restored by the Supreme Court orders with compliments of Speaker National Assembly Gohar Ayub Khan, the Award for the best media covering of the issue was conferred. 

2. From Pakistan Education Center at Doha , Qatar for best coverage report. 3. Award by Editor's Round Table on development of Journalism in 1995 in 4. Abbotabad organized by Rawalpindi Press Club, AIOU and UNICEF. 5. Award on Annual Day of Pakistan Air Force in 1996 for best coverage. 6. Award on the occasion of ground breaking ceremony of Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway in 1997 by NHA. 7. Best Performance Award as News Agency in Pakistan by Jashan-e-Quaid-e-Azam awards Ceremony held in Dubai , December 1998 conducted by Daily Nawi-e-Waqt. 8. Award by the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) in 1998 at Rawalpindi . 9. Youm-e-Takber Chagi Cup in 1999 under Pakistan Sports Board Control.

(0092-51) 2891921-4 Beginning of a new Era

	News Network International (NNI) is the Pakistan 's oldest recognized news agency, founded in 1992 by late Hafiz Abdul Khaliq. 

Today, the Agency continues to expand its operations worldwide, reaching thousands of subscribers via radio, television, newspapers and companies from its main headquarter in Islamabad as well as Bureau offices in Peshawar, Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Quetta, Karachi and regional offices in Gilgat, Muzzafarabad, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Kasur, Vehari, Mailsi, Hyderabad and Sukkhur. From all such stations top quality national and international news service is being provided according to the specific needs of NNI' clients.

Founder: Hafiz Abdul Khaliq

	Late Hafiz Abdul Khaliq started his journalistic career from a suburb vicinity of the country known as Chandiwal, District Khenewal, Punjab who became precedent in the realm of journalism because of his God gifted ability and dynamic personality.

After his graduation, Mr. Khaliq joined the journalism and grasped over the issues related to politics, economics, human rights and social subjects because of his instinctive capability to comprehend the root cause of an issue and unquestionable ability to resolve it. As a reporter for local Urdu Daily of Vehari, "INSANIYAT" from where shortly Pakistan 's prominent Urdu Daily, the "NAWA-I-WAQT appointed him District Correspondent. Soon after he accepted the offer of Urdu daily ‘JESSARAT' to work as Bureau Chief of Multan then Bureau Chief of the Punjab 's Capital Lahore for the same daily. Hafiz Abdul Khaliq later came to Islamabad as the editor of the Capital's first Urdu Daily the "MARKAZ" whereas he also represented Weekly "TAKBEER" Karachi and the Weekly "HURMAT" of Islamabad during this period. Islamabad fully recognized Hafiz Abdul Khaliq's professional skills he soon became a known figure in the official, political, business and trade circles of the Capital of Pakistan. This was the best of the time which helped Hafiz Abdul Khaliq to line up the formation of NNI in 1992, when the founder worked so hard and almost twenty hours a day to develop and set the news agency on sound footings that it had a telling effect on his health and he became the victim of cancer, the incurable disease till date. NNI salutes the persistent efforts of its founder because of him the news agency became so well known to the journalistic world that in a record time. On the 4th of July 1999 when this great personality of the Journalistic world breathed his last, NNI was a well-established organization. Presently, Ammar Khaliq determined to carry on his father' mission by producing accurate and timely news stories to subscribers with the help of his team members professionally.

Quality of Service

	More than one decade of experience in the domain of journalism has made the NNI more confident to deliver its excellent service by breaking news from around the country round the clock.

Consequently, the Agency has been recognized by its clients due to its standing on the repute of reliability and quality since its establishment NNI delivering its news service to a total of 300 national and regional newspapers, published in English, Urdu, Pushtu, Saraiki and Sindhi languages, whereas the Agency has subscribers in America, Europe, Far East, South Asia, Central Asia, Gulf and the Middle East as well. The news network eagerness to express swiftly and exactly most up-to-dated news by covering the subjects related to economic, financial, political, education, social, culture, sports, entertainment, oil & gas, means of communications, science and technology, Lower House and Upper House as well as Apex court proceedings has increased the size of its credentials among its partners.

Services Offered

	News: 

The news agency providing news service to national and international dailies, weekly, fortnightly and monthly newspapers publishing in English, Urdu, Pushtu, Saraiki and Sindhi languages whereas the same service also is being provided to the national and international electronic media. Photo Service: NNI launched its electronic photo service in early 2003 which successfully releasing news pictures via email by ensuring speedy transmission of photos to its subscribers. Website: NNI's Website ( www.nni-news.com.pk ) daily attracting more readers and number of viewers, growing with a fast pace. As many as 1943 viewers have been recorded daily around the world. The Website Edition is updated daily at 9:00 am PST , but in near future we are seeking for the live update of our site. The Largest News Network: NNI has become the largest reporting network in Pakistan because a total of 1250 professional correspondents, reporters and stringers of the agency filing news stories and articles by answering the 5 Ws and 1H of any event efficiently from all towns, Tehsils, Districts and provincial head quarters. Methodology: All the received matter is edited and translated by a proficient team of subeditors rapidly and the communication wing of the agency transmits it to the subscribers. Besides, the reporters in regional offices as well as overseas correspondents file stories immediately to the regional office and Head office respectively.

Looking Ahead!

	•	To following the overseas network expansion policy NNI has decided to appoint correspondents as well as broaden its subscriber' portfolio internationally. 

• After experiencing to broadcast Bussiness Update from Pakistan Broad Casting Corporation, the Agency working for launching a business news production house in the Head quarter very soon. • By sustaining its independence, NNI leadership has planned to establish ‘Public Relations' departments in the agency shortly from where the different organizations would be linkage through providing outsource facility in the light of their needs by sharing Agency' experience. • To setup a training institute for proper training of the new comers in the field of journalism so that proficient journalists should be introduce in the growing market.

Awards & Recognitions

	10.	1993: From National Assembly Cabinet Restored by the Supreme Court orders with compliments of Speaker National Assembly Gohar Ayub Khan, the Award for the best media covering of the issue was conferred. 

11. From Pakistan Education Center at Doha , Qatar for best coverage report. 12. Award by Editor's Round Table on development of Journalism in 1995 in 13. Abbotabad organized by Rawalpindi Press Club, AIOU and UNICEF. 14. Award on Annual Day of Pakistan Air Force in 1996 for best coverage. 15. Award on the occasion of ground breaking ceremony of Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway in 1997 by NHA. 16. Best Performance Award as News Agency in Pakistan by Jashan-e-Quaid-e-Azam awards Ceremony held in Dubai , December 1998 conducted by Daily Nawi-e-Waqt. 17. Award by the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) in 1998 at Rawalpindi . 18. Youm-e-Takber Chagi Cup in 1999 under Pakistan Sports Board Control.

Ammar Yasir

ce@nni-news.com.pk

Editor Muhammad Tahir Khan Email: editor@nni-news.com.pk

Phone: 0300-5276676

Urdu Chief News Editor M. Zakria Chaudhry Email: zakaria@nni-news.com.pk

Phone: 0333-5474793

News Editor M. Tariq Nadeem Email: tariqeditor@gmail.com

Phone: 0333-5431657

SHARP EYE

PAKISTAN'S INDEPENDENT NEWS AGENCY

'''HEADQUARTER'''

Sharp Eye (Pvt.) Limited, 111-Lytton Road Lahore Pakistan

Ph: +92-42-7313401-2 Fax: +92-42-7313404-5

Fax Karachi: +92-21-5206513

Cell: 0300 8400508

E-Mail: etitor@sharpeye.com.pk

E-Mail: etitor@sharpeyenews.com

WEB: www.sharpeye.com.pk

WEB: www.sharpeyenews.com

WEB: www.sharpeye..pk

WEB: www.sharpeye.us

WEB: www.sharpeye.tv

Chief Editor: Mian Muhammad Azhar Amin

---

INTRODUCTION

Sharp Eye is Pakistan's independent international news agency established in January 2000. With the aim to provide true news to T.V channels, national as well as international newspapers on modern lines following the modern and latest standards; “Sharp Eye” is working under the supervision of its founder Mian Muhammad Azhar Amin. He is renowned Journalist of Pakistan and has the experience of working for Pakistani as well as foreign Newspapers, News Agencies and a TV Channel. In the light of his experiences he felt the need for the establishment of an independent news agency that could be a source for presenting true news to media all over the world. The agency is successfully providing news service to almost all national and regional newspapers published in various languages as well as International newspapers of different countries. In addition to this, it also provides services to TV channels. It has a well-knit information network with its headquarter in Lahore and bureau offices in Karachi, Islamabad, Quetta and Peshawar. Moreover the agency has bureau offices in New York, Virginia, Washington, Dubai, London and Toronto too. Sharp Eye has a large network of correspondents, reporters and stringers throughout Pakistan and also has correspondents in the main cities and capitals of the world.

Sharp Eye’s Website is attracting more and more readers thus increasing the number of its viewers day by day. The button, “Today’s Newspaper”, is linked with Pakistan’s first web based daily newspaper, www.internetakhbar.com which is being uploaded daily with latest news in English, Urdu and Arabic under the editorship of its owner and Chief Editor Mian Azhar Amin. Pakistan’s Leading newspapers have picked so many exclusive stories from “internetakhbar.com”. Many breaking news also goes to Sharp Eye's credit and these news items were prominently displayed in media.

In fact Sharp Eye is the very first news agency of its kind as it has commenced services for the electronic media, web newspapers and evening newspapers too. Sharp Eye has started Production House to provide different programs and news to TV Channels. Chief Editor of the agency, Mian Azhar Amin, has produced and hosted a program on a TV channel with the title “Sharp Eye” and this unique program has earned popularity and fame world wide as it disclosed the corruption of various governmental and private organizations. He also had to face irreparable damages, attacks and enmity of corrupt people, as a penalty, for publishing/releasing true news against the corrupt mafia in political, private and government sector too.

Before the partition of India, the areas constituting Pakistan did not have any news agency, but Associated Press of India and United Press of India had their local offices in the area. These offices became the nucleus for Pakistani news agencies.

The four national news agencies in Pakistan which sprang up after partition, are:

1. Associated Press of Pakistan (APP)
2. Pakistan press association, which was later, renamed as Pakistan Press International (PPI)
3. United press of Pakistan (UPP)
4. National News Agency (NNA)

Due to the computerization, many new news agencies have come into existence during the past decade. Examples of these news agencies are: Independent News Pakistan (INP), News network international (NNI), SANA (South Asian News Agency), and Online News International (ONI). But these agencies will take time in order to be considered as credible and authentic as APP and PPI.

Asian News Network

Main article: Asian News Network

Pakistan's third largest Urdu news agency is Asian New' Network (ANN) which was formed in 1998 and has a shining history of independent and exclusive news service to more than 45 newspapers, 4 Tv channels along with service to Radio sttions as well.

Pakistan Press International (PPI)

Pakistan Press International (PPI), was founded in June 1956 as Pakistan Press Association. The name was changed in 1968.

It was started by Mr. Muzzam Ali; then Chief Editor of APP. the agency’s main objective was to provide competition to APP whose monopoly has led to deterioration in the standard of news collection and distribution. It began its service by hand, only in Karachi.

PPA also built up a network of correspondents in the smaller cities and towns in Pakistan. This was in contrast to APP, which was content with coverage in a few large cities. For foreign news the agency signed up with the AFP in 1957, and a year later became the first Asian partner of DPA. PPA also posted a correspondent in the Middle East, an area of special interest to Pakistani newspapers.

In 1958, the agency installed the teleprinters in the offices of its clients. By 1960, PPI had subscriber in all the major newspapers centers of Pakistan, namely Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi and Dacca.

Effects of APP’s takeover on PPI

The take over of APP also threatened the existence of PPA as questions were raised as to whether it was necessary to have two news agencies. The government even considered the idea of merging PPA and APP, but the idea failed due to the immense opposition from the news papers.

The greatest problem that hinders PPI was the government’s policies that restricted press freedom. Ayub’s regime, which was curbing press freedom, was especially harmful to PPA, as independent political coverage was one of the reasons why newspapers subscribe to its service.

Growth

The agency launched a photo service in 1965, just before the war between India and Pakistan. The next year PPI started National Feature Service, which provided features for the editorial pages and magazine sections of the newspapers. These were distributed not only to Pakistani newspapers but to the English language papers in the Middle East. It also entered in the field of magazine publishing. It published fortnightly Pakistan Courier, the monthly Economic Outlook, and the Urdu weekly Paiman.

Structure of PPI

Editorial operation

PPI has its head office in Karachi and bureau in Islamabad, the federal capitaland the four provincial capitals---Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta and recently developing a bureau office in Hyderabad.

Its editorial function is similar to that of a newspaper. But unlike APP the operation of PPI are decentralized and news are sent directly by originating bureau to subscribers without having to go through the head office. Because of decentralization, PPI’s news service is generally faster than APP.

Communication networks

The main circuit of PPI inter bureau traffic was routed along the Karachi- Lahore- Islamabad Lahore- Karachi circuit. Lahore was the hub of the PPI communication networks. But now time has changed. These telegraph systems have been replaced by computer. The subscribers are now directly fed either through email.

Staff

According to an estimate there are approximately 300 to 350 staff members in PPI which include both journalists and non-media staff. It has a large network of correspondents and stringers, known as district correspondents throughout Pakistan.

Ownership & Finances

PPI is the private joint stock company that runs on a non-profit basis. It is a fundamental policy of PPI that shareholders are not paid any dividends or profits, and directors are not paid emoluments in any form. PPI is headed by Mr. Owais Aslam Ali who took charge as Chairman and CEO in 1998.

Subscribers

At this point of time, there are over 150 newspapers, radio and television channels that are the subscribers of PPI. The subscription rate varies depending on size and financial strength of the client. The most prominent subscribers are: Dawn, Business Recorder, The Nation, The News, Daily Times, Jung and Naw-e-waqt.

Services provided by PPI

News services

1. Official news

PPI make extensive use of government handouts. In the past the PPI had installed teleprinters in the office of PID (federal Press information department) to ensure rapid dispatch of government handouts to the Islamabad bureau, where those suitable for use were selected and rewritten before being included in the national news service. Now teleprinters have been replaced by computers.

2. Political news

The main reason for the establishment of PPI was the biased political coverage of APP which always served as a mouth piece to the government, ignoring cultural, economic and other aspects of national life as well. PPI opened these avenues, and even the period of authoritarian rule continued to cover the activities of all parties, including those in the opposition. By constantly following this policy, the agency has established the credibility of its coverage of politics, which Bryin (1983: 368) aptly described as the “life blood of the Pakistani press.”

3. District news

PPI has placed great importance on the developing its district service. Today, with over 250 district correspondents throughout the country, PPI is an important source of news from the rural areas for the Pakistani media. It provides not only the facilities such as computers to its correspondents but also look forward to train them.

Photo service

PPI has re-started its photo service from last year as it was discontinued in 1975 by the PPP-nominated management.

Feature service

PPI relaunched its feature service in 1987. The service covers specific subjects such as environment, arts, women and development issues. In 1990, PPI entered into co-syndication agreement with the Panos institute to produce features on the environment and development issues, for Urdu and Sindhi newspapers. These features are not only distributed to newspapers in Pakistan but also to Urdu and Sindhi publications in other countries. Because of the paucity of material on these subjects, the feature service established itself within short time.

Urdu service

PPI started its Urdu service in 1989. In the beginning it selected 40 to 50 selected items translated into Urdu and delivered twice daily by the messengers to newspapers in Karachi. This service is still working in its full flash form.

United Press of Pakistan

United Press of Pakistan came into existence in December 1949. Mr. Qutubuddin Aziz as a private limited company founded it. However for long time, the agency has merely existed on paper and just about manages to get the small subsidies marked for it by the central and provisional governments. Currently, it is managed by Mehmood ul Aziz who is the managing director.

According to the MD of UPP, “the revenues generated by government subsides forces an organizations to become the mouth piece of government. As UPP wishes to enjoy the independence of action and freedom of organization, it doesn’t accept subsidies to the government.”

It is providing news either by fax, telephone and email. Their service comprises few national items plus some items lifted from Indian and Middle Eastern newspapers. There are total 25 subscribers of this agency including the Jung group and the Naw-e-waqt group. The two leading papers Business Recorder and Daily News are also its subscribers.

The basic motives of UPP are:

• To highlight public grievances and ways to remedy these grievances.
• To highlight the short comings part of official agencies
• To focus attention on the matter that concern the public.

Online International News Network

This is Pakistan's first bilingual news and photo wire service, dedicated to issues that are neglected by the mainstream media. It focuses on national and global processes affecting the economic, social and political development of the people of Pakistan in particular and the region in general and claims to disseminate genuine as well as useful information to the nation and the people across the globe. Mr. Mohsin Baig who has been a journalist in his own right and now Chief Executive Online initiated this project in January 1999.It is indeed our great privilege to introduce Pakistan’s leading news/photo agency Online International News Network (OINN) to you. This is Pakistan's first bilingual news and photo wire service, dedicated to issues that are neglected by the mainstream media. We focus on national and global processes affecting the economic, social and political development of the people of Pakistan in particular and the region in general. We disseminate genuine as well as useful information to the nation and the people across the globe. OINN is different from contemporary Pakistani news agencies in many ways. There has been a very strong feeling in the outside world that there is no credible and independent source of information in Pakistan, chiefly because the electronic media including radio and television networks are state-owned.

It was in this background that Mr Mohsin Baig, the company’s Chairman thought of setting up a news network worthy of credibility at home as well as in the foreign world. Mr Baig, who has been a journalist in his own right and now Chief Executive Online initiated this project in January 1999.

Chairman’s primary concern was to build a highly professional team of reputable journalists, and marry it with state-of-the-art technology. Following these objectives, each journalist was selected on merits to ensure maintaining high journalistic values and each equipment was specially designed to cater to the modern day needs. This was done, keeping in view, that we were at the turn of the century and as a nation we have to enter the next millennium with dignity and honour.

As we were still in the process of training our staff at new technology and preparing a style-sheet when an unforeseen event of Oct 12, 1999 took place in the country with military take-over in Pakistan. The Online team on that day huddled together, and unanimously decided to break ground forthwith, ahead of its scheduled launching of Nov 1, 1999. We jumped in the arena half-prepared, yet we were largely welcomed by the print media within Pakistan.

After attaining the status of a credible and most subscribed news/photo service provider in Pakistan, we later launched our English/Arabic news and pictures service for daily, weekly and monthly publications across the globe.

Online is the first-ever Pakistani news agency operating English, Urdu and Arabic news services simultaneously along with comprehensive national and international photo coverage. Our news reports often appear in the national and international print media while our photographs dominate news pages in most of the newspapers coming out from Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta besides some leading papers in the Middle East, Europe and the United States.

In English, Arabic and Urdu languages, we offer information packages to suit diverse needs; both local and international publications, print and electronic media, dailies and weeklies, magazines and periodic journals, specialised and subject-specific publications. We are also equipped for prompt dissemination of breaking news to the print and electronic media around the world.

Today, we are proud to operate off a root network purpose-built for Online in the United States. Naturally, our transmission quality and timings match any other big news agency of the world.

The constituent elements of Online are an independent policy, a pioneering spirit, a highly motivated professional core team, state-of-the-art technology, strategically located Bureaux and Correspondents spread all over Pakistan, and above all a sense of mission.

INDEPENDENCE An independent policy is the very substratum of the credibility for a news organisation. Naturally, everyone in the business claim they are independent. Few, however, appreciate what independence actually takes, and how difficult it is to uphold.

Online deems its financial independence to be the bedrock of its policy independence. A single-owner proposition from day one, the organization has kept its hands clean of any government grant, party contribution, or philanthropic endowment, and has a firm determination to always keep things this way.

Equally important at Online is intellectual independence, for vested interest groups have traditionally found it a breeze to infiltrate the ranks of media organisations with their henchmen. At Online, however, we have been able to foster a strong tradition of liberal thinking in a brief span of time so that any of our key members would feel disgraced if seen to be biased.

Freethinking professionals constitute the core team at Online, who have the intellectual duty to uphold liberal, rational thought at every level of the organisation, at the same time maintaining the richness of diversity of ideas characteristic to our society.

PIONEERING SPIRIT Online pioneered-and continues to be the only news agency to operate-photo service in Pakistan. Also, we are the only Pakistani media organisation that processes information in a substantially none-paper environment. The limitations remain correspondents, who must fax in, and to a lesser extent, processing of Urdu copy.

HIGHLY MOTIVATED PROFESSIONAL CORE TEAM Online core team is made up of some of the most distinguished figures of the industry in their respective spheres of skill, plus some of the most brilliant prospects. A delicate blend of experience and freshness, the crew, pitted against several practised combinations, has come out a winner in many situations.

STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY No media organisation in Pakistan is tapping computers and the Internet as extensively as Online. Our desk is fully computerised, as is reporting and of course, dissemination. Our photographers, too, are equipped with digital cameras.

Power-packed PCs, most modern optical scanning devices, and fastest network and communications’ cards have together contributed significantly to making Online a formidable opponent for the competition. In fact, although we are located south of the Digital Divide, we virtually operate north of it.

BUREAUX AND CORRESPONDENTS It is our pride to claim that Online with its Central office in New York and head office in Islamabad is a news network that has its bureaus at each provincial headquarters in Pakistan besides some major cities including Muzaffarabad, Hyderabad, Faisalabad, and Multan. Our bureaux are headed by senior, respectable and professional journalists. Their reporting teams comprise young, educated and honest reporters and photographers. More than 450 correspondents represent Online in every district and tehsil headquarter of the country.

This much for our domestic network; as well, Online has its correspondents in important world capitals and major cities including Washington, New York, Koeln (Germany), Moscow, Tokyo, Chicago, London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Cairo, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait covering events round-the-clock.

Services

After NNI, Online is the second Pakistani news agency operating English, Urdu and Arabic news services simultaneously along with comprehensive national and international photo coverage. Whereas, NNI lost its pace and had to leave Arabic and photo-services.

Editorial functions

Online has its Central office in New York and head office in Islamabad. It has its bureaus at each provincial headquarters in Pakistan besides some major cities including Muzaffarabad, Hyderabad, Faisalabad, and Multan. Each bureau is headed by senior and professional journalists.

Staff

Reporting teams comprise more than 450 correspondents, representing Online in almost every district and tehsil headquarter of the country. Online has its correspondents in important world capitals and major cities including Washington, New York, Koeln (Germany), Moscow, Tokyo, Chicago, London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Cairo, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait covering events round-the-clock.

Subscribing Newspapers

There are more or less 25 national subscribers of online international news network.

Committed to keep readers updated as the events unfold, within one month of its launch, PakTribune has been selected by one of the largest news resources – Google News Resource and moreover.com. Through news ticker services, PakTribune is providing news updates to scores of websites and news networks.

Role of international news agencies in Pakistan

The international news agencies are global in reach, and knit the world together. But none of the world agencies in fact distributes news in every country of the world, though technically they could supply their services to all newspapers and broadcasting stations, which wished to subscribe to them.

The worlds over these news agencies operate through one or more domestic news agencies under an agreement. The national news agencies receive the world news from these news agencies via satellite, and without distorting they edit them in keeping with their countries’ national interests and distribute to newspapers and other media.

This system prevailed in Pakistan till mid-1980s. But today Pakistan is an exception in the world where world agencies operate and feed the newspapers and other media and business houses directly! This detrimental unique position has earned through the courtesy of media managers in the Ministry of information.

The modern world’s practice of collecting and distributing news across the globe is only about hundred years old and was initiated by news agencies of the United States and the great imperial powers, Britain and France. Today, the world agencies – the Associated Press and the United Press International (U.S.), Reuters (Britain), and Agence France Press (France)—are still the principal conduits of transnational news, although they and other media have been transformed by the news space-age technology.

Reuters in Pakistan

Until mid 80’s Reuters as an international news agency operated in Pakistan through APP as agreed and in consonance with longstanding practice the world over. Reuters, through head quarters in London, function there through local news agency –associated press. Towards the end of 80s Reuters succeeded in clinching an unprecedented agreement incorporating its right to operate independently in Pakistan. The inclusion of provision was effected with an apparent knowledge of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the only controlling authority.

Amazingly the provision clinched by Reuters was never debated in APP editorial. The provision allowed Reuters to distribute, without even any share payment, “all services of economic and financial news and information indirectly to subscribers in Pakistan and collect revenue in respect of such other services.”

As the matter came to notice of the APP editorial, a series of summaries prepared and sent to the Ministry concerned urging to seek rescinding the damage provision and encourage Reuters to operate Via APP as usual within the territory of Islamic republic of Pakistan. The ministry, instead of acting timely on APP calls maintained an apparent mysterious acquiescence to-date.

Taking cue from Reuter’s success story in Pakistan, AFP has also bargained supply of its services to media and commercial houses directly.

References

Interviews

• MR Fazal Qureshi, Chief Editor in PPI
• Jalil Ahmed, worked in APP for 15 years
• Mehmood ul Aziz, MD of UPP
• Mr. Owais aslam, CEO of PPI
• Mr. Farooq Moin, Editor, PPI New Agency
• Mr. Naseer Ajaz, Bureau Chief, Karachi, PPI

Thesis consulted

• The Associate press of Pakistan—a report for UNESCO,1986
• Pakistan’s national news agencies :Their Evolution and operation by Owais Aslam Ali, 1992

Papers Consulted

• Dr. Shamsuddin, The news flow
• Jalil Ahmed, the news agencies
• Mohammed Mumtaz, Brief on APP,AUGUT 7,1992
• Dr. Mukthar Zaman , Flow of information in south Asian countries
• Twenty Years of Pakistan 1947-67, Government Publication
• William A. Hachten, The World New Prism, The Lowa State University Press, AMES, Lowa 1981

See also

• Reuters
• Associated Press

External links

• National News Agency & Daily Khabarnama
• AFP English website
• APP website
• NNI website
• Pehel - News from all over Pakistan
• ITMesh Online urdu magazine
• Pakistan News