PESHAWAR – The PTV salary crisis has reached a critical juncture as it’s employees have warned of a nationwide protest over non-payment of salaries, irregular appointments, and worsening financial instability. .
Pakistan Television (PTV), once financially sound, now faces collapse due to mismanagement, political interference, and shrinking revenue. For decades, PTV dominated national broadcasting, holding nearly 70% of the country’s advertising market. Private channels shared the remaining 30%. Despite owning modern broadcasting tools, successive administrations failed to use them effectively.
Also Read: PTV Staff Warn of Protest Over Unpaid Salaries Amid Growing Financial Strain
Every government used PTV to push political agendas, installing loyalists in top roles and sidelining merit. Hiring without political backing became nearly impossible—a trend also seen in the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP). Insiders say unchecked hiring has bloated payroll costs. Drivers earn over one hundred thousand rupees monthly. Cameramen earn over two hundred thousand, while top producers and anchors take home five to 1mn rupees. Meanwhile, newly hired producers earn just fifty thousand rupees. Under such imbalanced pay structures, the ongoing PTV salary crisis has become an inevitable outcome.
These pay disparities have contributed directly to PTV’s salary crisis. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently withdrew a key subsidy that allowed PTV to collect revenue through electricity bills. Millions of citizens used to pay a monthly PTV fee as part of their power bills. That revenue stream has now vanished, creating a major shortfall.
Experts say the fiscal situation will worsen without urgent intervention. Many workers have gone unpaid for months. Daily wage employees are among the hardest hit. They now depend on loans to cover basic expenses such as utilities, school fees, and groceries. The PTV Employees Coordination Council accused the management of ignoring complaints and misleading parliamentary committees. They said PTV has not paid pensions and commutation funds to retirees since 2022.
Employees who applied for loans from their General Provident (GP) and Contributory Provident (CP) funds are still waiting for disbursements. Earlier this year, hundreds of retired workers gathered in Islamabad to demand unpaid benefits. Journalist unions, including the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), criticised PTV management for mismanagement and neglect.
During a Senate hearing, lawmakers revealed that PTV earned over ten billion rupees annually through advertising and electricity bill deductions. Despite this income, salaries were delayed—pointing to serious financial mismanagement. Employees say a politically connected group now controls PTV. This group continues to make partisan hires, deepening the crisis. Reports indicate that some Ministry of Information officials support this network, further damaging PTV’s credibility and finances.
As the PTV salary crisis escalates, staff across Pakistan have united under the PTV Employees Coordination Council. They announced plans to protest outside Parliament House if their dues are not paid.The Council urged the government to reform PTV. They called for merit-based hiring, reduced expenses, and structural changes to prevent bankruptcy.
PTV remains a powerful voice in Pakistan’s media. Its nationwide reach and public trust are unmatched. But without immediate reforms, the institution could soon collapse.
