MP Osama Heikal, the head of the culture, information and antiquities committee at the House of Representatives, has warned of a disaster facing press institutions unless their status is corrected.

During a meeting of the committee in the presence of a number of journalists to discuss the press draft law, Heikal said the press institutions, either governmental or private, are facing a disaster.

He warned the newspapers would disappear during the coming period due to the shortage of funds to pay journalists' salaries and the purchase of paper, saying the prices of the newspapers would hit five pounds each.

Heikal said the press draft law passed several stages since Ibrahim Mahlab was the prime minister till now calling for finalizing it.