ISLAMABAD: The Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), a state-run news agency, is facing backlash after inviting applications for unpaid correspondents across the country.
The agency operates under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting as the only state-owned newswire. It is headquartered in Islamabad with having offices in all the provincial capitals, along with correspondents across Pakistan and abroad.
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APP provides news services in Urdu, English, Pashto, Sindhi, Saraiki, and several other regional and international languages. The newswire also collaborates with other international news agencies to share information and news content.
On Tuesday, APP posted an announcement on its official Facebook page, seeking part-time correspondents who would work without remuneration.
According to the advertisement, APP required correspondents to cover culture, sports, music, food, and tourism.
The advertisement did not specify any educational or professional qualification but mentioned that social media proficiency would be considered a qualification.
The post has drawn strong criticism from journalists and social media users, who questioned how a government-owned organisation could seek unpaid labour.
Many expressed disappointment, arguing that if a state-run agency resorts to unpaid work, private media organisations cannot be blamed for similar practices.
Several users condemned the announcement, with some calling it shameful and others questioning how APP could claim to be a credible institution while expecting people to work for free.
Despite the backlash, APP has yet to respond to the criticism.
APP made headlines in April 2024 when the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) registered a case against its three senior employees for their involvement in a scam worth Rs124 million.
The accused senior staffers were identified as Project Director Muhammad Ghawas, Deputy Director IT Musawar Imran, and Chief Computer Engineer Saad Mudassar.