Associated Press of Pakistan

Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) is a government-operated national news agency of Pakistan. It is not associated with the Associated Press agency (AP).

History

Lack of financial resources

Following Pakistan's independence, the new-born country's press was economically weak, and was thus unable to financially support the agency. APP asked the Government of Pakistan for financial support, which was granted in the form of loans and subsidies. Government support enabled APP to subscribe to the services of the world's news agencies and to open offices in major cities of the country.

Government takeover

The financial situation of APP continued to deteriorate until it was on the verge of collapse. This was the direct result of the withholding of payment of arrears from the Government of Pakistan due from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in an effort to create a financial crisis for the national news agency. It owed about Rs. 8 laks to the government's Post and Telegraph Department and another Rs. 12 laks in unpaid subscription fees to foreign news agencies. The Government of Pakistan intervened and took over the agency on 15 July 1961 following the instruction of certain vested interests within the Government of Pakistan.

The take over took place with several changes: Malik Tajuddin was removed and A K Qureshi, a senior government officer with some journalistic experience, was hired as Administrator of APP. The head office of the agency was shifted to Islamabad,...
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