ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday served notices and sought comments from respondents in a petition seeking formation of 9th Wage Board Award.
Chief Justice Sarfaraz Dogar heard the petitions filed by Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) and Islamabad High Court Journalists Association (IHCJA). The petitioners’ lawyer Shahid Khokhar appeared before the court.
The petition seeks to order the federal government to immediately form the 9th Wage Board. The Secretary Information and Broadcasting and the Secretary Cabinet Division have been made parties in the petition.
The petition said that the 5-year period of the 8th Wage Board Award has expired, a new board should be formed from February 1, 2026.
The formation of a wage board is a legal requirement under Section 9 of the Newspaper Employees Act 1973.
It said that in this era of inflation, it has become impossible for journalists to survive on the current wage. Delay in the formation of the wage board is a violation of the fundamental rights of journalists and Article 18.
The petition was filed by PFUJ President Afzal Butt, RIUJ President Asif Bashir Chaudhry and Islamabad High Court Journalists Association President Asadullah Malik.