NPT is a non-profit, non-partisan National Trust helping to support healthy journalism in Pakistan
THE PURPOSES FOR CREATING TRUST
The National Press Trust was established under a trust deed executed by 39 prominent businessmen, on the 8th Day of April 1964, with a vision to promote sound and healthy Journalism with a truly national outlook, untainted by parochial, or Sectarian nation, and to make the Press a truly objective and effective instrument for propagating the ideology of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and for the furtherance of the unity, solidarity, integrity, and prosperity in the various sphere in the national life.
THE PAST
The ‘Charitable Trust’ established by a group of ‘Pakistani Philanthropists’ with a capital of Rs.5 million had the following aims and objectives as contained in the Trust Deed.
a. To establish and publish newspapers and periodicals with a truly objective outlook and devoted to the cause of national progress and solidarity, and to acquire promote and develop all other forms of mass information media.
b. To establish or acquire by purchase or otherwise other concerns engaged in publishing of books or newspapers or periodicals or any other mass information media.
c. To propagate and assist in the creation of an economic order based upon the principles of social justice as educated by Islam.
d. To propagate and assist in the creation of a peaceful and law-abiding democratic society.
e. To support national schemes for economic development for promoting civic and other responsibilities, education and social welfare.
At its zenith, the National Press Trust owned the largest chain of daily newspapers in Pakistan.
| S.No. | Ownerships / Name of newspaper | Year of publication |
| Progressive Papers Limited (68% Shares) | ||
| 1. | The Pakistan Times, Lahore (English daily) | 1947 |
| 2. | The Pakistan Times, Islamabad (English daily) | 1960 |
| 3. | The Pakistan Times Overseas Weekly, (English Weekly) | 1983 |
| 4. | The Imroze, Lahore (Urdu daily) | 1948 |
| 5. | The Imroze, Multan (Urdu daily) | 1959 |
| Mashriq (Pvt) Limited (100 % shares) | ||
| 6. | The Mashriq, Lahore (Urdu daily) | 1963 |
| 7. | The Mashriq Karachi (Urdu daily) | 1967 |
| 8. | The Mashriq, Quetta, (Urdu daily) | 1967 |
| 9 | The Mashriq, Peshawar (Urdu daily) | 1972 |
| 10. | The Mashriq, Evening Specailly Karachi (Urdu evening daily) | 1966 |
| 11 | The Akhbar-e-Khawateen, Karachi (Urdu weekly) | 1953 |
| National News Publication Limited (78% shares) | ||
| 12. | The Morning News, Karachi Ltd (English daily) |
OTHER PAST ACTIVITIES OF NPT
- Welfare activities such as making ex-gratia payment to deserving employees of the Trust and its subsidiaries and also to their bereaved families.
2. The Trust had also been giving generous donations to welfare organizations and also to organizations connected with newspapers, such as the newspaper Hawkers Association.
3. It had been financing functions held by the Trade Unions of its newspapers.
4. The Trust had also instituted a number of scholarships for students of journalism in various Universities.
5. Moreover, the Trust had undertaken work relating to training of journalists. It has organized Seminars and Workshops on subjects relating to journalism and new print technology.
6. The NPT had started a Feature Service under which it has commissioned eminent writers to contribute articles of topical interest on various important subject. These articles are syndicate and published not only in the NPT newspapers but in non-NPT newspapers as well. Incidentally, this is a source of great help to such journalists as NPT makes generous and prompt payments for such articles.
7. The NPT undertook publication work as well. It has published a number of books and pamphlets on various subjects especially relating to journalism, press and new print technology.
8. Moreover, the NPT undertook publication of the monthly magazine ‘Az-Zakaat’ on behalf of the Central Zakat Administration of the Ministry of Finance
- Welfare activities such as making ex-gratia payment to deserving employees of the Trust and its subsidiaries and also to their bereaved families.
2. The Trust had also been giving generous donations to welfare organizations and also to organizations connected with newspapers, such as the newspaper Hawkers Association.
3. It had been financing functions held by the Trade Unions of its newspapers.
4. The Trust had also instituted a number of scholarships for students of journalism in various Universities.
5. Moreover, the Trust had undertaken work relating to training of journalists. It has organized Seminars and Workshops on subjects relating to journalism and new print technology.
6. The NPT had started a Feature Service under which it has commissioned eminent writers to contribute articles of topical interest on various important subject. These articles are syndicate and published not only in the NPT newspapers but in non-NPT newspapers as well. Incidentally, this is a source of great help to such journalists as NPT makes generous and prompt payments for such articles.
7. The NPT undertook publication work as well. It has published a number of books and pamphlets on various subjects especially relating to journalism, press and new print technology.
8. Moreover, the NPT undertook publication of the monthly magazine ‘Az-Zakaat’ on behalf of the Central Zakat Administration of the Ministry of Finance