Research By: Abid Siddique Chaudhry

The World Ambassador ________

ISLAMABAD: The All Pakistan Newspapers and Electronic Media Employees Confederation (APNEC) is the largest national union confederation of newspaper workers, electronic media employees, technical staff, circulation staff, production workers, and non-editorial media staff in Pakistan. This organization unites newspaper and electronic media unions across the country and works for employees’ rights, wages, service structure, job security, media freedom, and the implementation of labor laws.

APNEC is the only national confederation in Pakistan that includes workers from both print and electronic media.

Establishment — 1974

APNEC was founded in 1974 to provide a unified national platform for media and newspaper workers across the country. At that time, newspapers were plagued with:

Low wages
Disorganized service structures
Illegal terminations
Poor working conditions

In this context, various newspaper unions from different cities agreed to form a national confederation.

Thus, in 1974, the “All Pakistan Newspaper Employees Confederation (APNEC)” was established, which later expanded to include electronic media workers and adopted its present comprehensive name:

All Pakistan Newspapers and Electronic Media Employees Confederation (APNEC)

Historical Background

During the 1960s and 1970s, journalism and media institutions in Pakistan faced government restrictions, censorship, economic pressure, and industrial issues. In that period:

Newspaper workers’ wages were unregulated
Implementation of labor laws was limited
Newspaper unions were suppressed
There was no unified national platform for media workers’ rights

The establishment of APNEC in 1974 filled this gap and, for the first time, provided a strong national voice to media workers.

Notable Leaders and Historic Personalities

Minhaj Barna — A renowned journalist and organizational leader who founded APNEC and played a key role in the struggle of journalists’ unions.

Other important leaders: Abdul Hameed Chhapra, Pervaiz Shaukat, Naseer Zaidi, and many more who served in various leadership roles.

Expansion in the New Era — Inclusion of Electronic Media

After 2000, Pakistan saw rapid growth in electronic media (TV channels, news channels, digital platforms). APNEC expanded its structure to include:

News channel reporters and technical staff
Non-journalist media workers
Digital media workforce
Field technicians
Master control room staff

Thus, APNEC became the representative confederation of all media workers of Pakistan, not just newspaper employees.

Mission and Objectives

APNEC plays a significant role in promoting the rights of media workers by focusing on:

Improving working conditions
Ensuring fair wages
Enhancing service structures
Providing overtime, bonuses, and dues
Protecting legal rights
Struggling for implementation of labor laws
Safeguarding press freedom
Supporting smaller unions
Strengthening negotiation power with media owners and government institutions

Organizational Structure

APNEC is a nationwide federation comprising:

Central Chairman
Central Secretary General
Vice Chairmen / Joint Secretaries
Provincial Chairmen
Provincial Secretaries General
Divisional Unions
District Unions
Working Committee / Council

Central Leadership (2025–2027)

Central Chairman: Muhammad Siddique Anzar

Muhammad Siddique Anzar is an experienced organizer and labor leader in the media sector. He has been elected as the Central Chairman of APNEC for the second time (two-year term). He is a strong voice for media employees across Pakistan and represents print and electronic media workers nationwide.

He successfully secured a grant of one billion rupees from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for the Prime Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme for Journalists and Media Workers, enabling over 5,000 media employees to receive free medical treatment in top hospitals across Pakistan — a historic service for the media community.

Central Secretary General: Abdul Samad Mengal

Active for workers’ rights across Balochistan and the entire country.

Provincial Leadership

Punjab Chairman: Abid Siddique Chaudhry
Punjab Secretary General: Sardar Ijaz Khan Shahani
Sindh Chairman: M.B. Abbasi
Sindh Secretary General: Syed Anwar Alvi
Balochistan Chairman: Haider Khan Achakzai
Balochistan Secretary General: Yasir Jadoon
Gilgit-Baltistan Chairman: Mehvesh Mumtaz Baig
Gilgit-Baltistan Secretary General: Wazir Nusrat Ali
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chairman: Abdul Wadood Baig
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Secretary General: Dr. Nauman

APNEC Punjab — Provincial Chapter

Chairman: Abid Siddique Chaudhry
General Secretary: Ijaz Shahani

Key Achievements:

Reorganization of unions across Punjab
Strong voice for working-class issues
Negotiations with media organizations
Strong network in Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, Sialkot, etc.

APNEC’s Struggle (1974–2024)

Struggle for implementation of Wage Board Awards
Actions against illegal dismissals
Participation in movements for press freedom
Nationwide representation
Recovery of workers’ dues during economic crises
Protests against media houses

APNEC’s Role and Importance in Pakistan

The largest representative body of media workers
United voice of print and electronic media staff
Key pillar of the labor movement
Active role in legal reforms and media policy-making

Conclusion

For nearly 50 years, APNEC has safeguarded the rights of media workers in Pakistan. It has:

Fought for the rights of thousands of employees
Organized unions across the country
Participated in the struggle for press freedom
Provided media workers with a powerful collective platform

APNEC continues to be the strongest voice of media workers in Pakistan.

APNEC’s Major Struggles: Protests, Legal Cases, and Wage Board Awards (1974–2025)

This section highlights APNEC’s historical struggle from a research perspective, especially in relation to labor rights, wage board awards, and legal battles.

1. Wage Board Awards and Legal Struggles

APNEC has consistently fought for wage board awards for media workers. According to IFJ, eight Wage Board Awards have been issued to date.

The 7th Wage Board Award was highly controversial. PFUJ and APNEC jointly demanded that the award be enforced by linking government advertisements to its implementation, pressuring media owners to comply.

In 2008, PFUJ and APNEC demanded the establishment of the 8th Wage Board.

International organizations also noted these struggles. FIDH reported that APNS (representing media owners) avoided implementing wage awards for years, but the court ruled in favor of workers and their unions.

IFJ/IRADA reports also highlight difficulties in enforcing wage board decisions and gaps in providing proper legal and financial protection to newspaper workers.

2. Protests and Demonstrations

APNEC has been active in protests, especially when salaries are delayed or employees are terminated.

In 2012, when implementation of the 7th Wage Board Award was delayed, PFUJ and APNEC observed a Black Day and launched a nationwide protest campaign.

Regional units also played an active role — for example, on 12 November 2024, APNEC Bhakkar Unit was inaugurated, where leadership discussed workers’ welfare, health insurance, and union strengthening.

On 29 December 2024, APNEC held a major meeting in Rawalpindi/Islamabad with national and provincial leadership.

3. Struggle for Digital Media Rights and Legal Reforms

In the modern era, APNEC faces new challenges regarding the legal recognition and protection of digital media workers.

Reports highlight that digital journalists are not adequately protected under outdated laws, such as the Newspaper Employees Act 1973, which only covers print media.

Similarly, implementation of wage board decisions (e.g., 8th award) remains inconsistent.

4. International and Human Rights Dimension

APNEC’s struggle is acknowledged internationally as well. IFJ describes APNEC as a “key defender of fundamental labor rights for journalists.”

FIDH documents APNEC’s legal battles, court strategies, and defense mechanisms in detail.

Analysis and Impact

APNEC’s struggle for wage boards has strengthened the legal and financial standing of media workers.
Its protests and legal battles have pressured media owners to respect employees’ rights.
With the rise of digital media, APNEC’s challenges have increased due to lack of legal protections for modern media workers.
APNEC remains active not only at the employment level but also in policy-making and legal reforms.

APNEC Timeline (1974–2025) — Key Events, Protests & Legal Struggles

Year	Major Events and Struggles
1974	APNEC founded by uniting local newspaper unions nationwide.
1977–1988	Active era of Minhaj Barna — a leading face of APNEC and PFUJ.
2003	APNEC workers staged a sit-in in Karachi, protesting non-implementation of the 7th Wage Board Award.
2006	APNEC and PFUJ opposed APNS’ proposal of granting only one Eid holiday.
2008	Media workers protested nationwide after Azam Khan, a private TV employee, committed suicide due to unpaid salary. APNEC + PFUJ demanded the 8th Wage Board.
2011	Death of Minhaj Barna, APNEC founder and legendary labor leader.
2012	PFUJ + APNEC protested the 7th Wage Board Award and criticized government payments to APNS.
2018	Government announced formation of the 8th Wage Board; nationwide protests against layoffs and salary cuts.
2019	HRCP reported formation of Journalist-Workers Action Committee led by APNEC and others for workers’ dues and rights.
2023	Govt allocated 1 billion rupees for media workers’ health insurance.
2025	Nationwide protests by PFUJ + APNEC against amendments to PECA; “Black Day” observed.

Overall Assessment

The timeline shows APNEC’s evolving struggle — from representing only print media workers to covering electronic and digital media employees. Wage Board Awards have remained a central focus, especially the 7th and 8th awards.

APNEC’s joint struggle with PFUJ has strengthened the labor movement. In the modern era, APNEC is active not only in economic issues but also in legal and policy reforms.