A delegation from the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Committee, led by Chairman Pir Haroon Shah, recently met with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Secretary Matiullah Khan to discuss outstanding newspaper dues, the allocation of government advertisements, and the financial difficulties faced by print media in the province.

The delegation pressed for the immediate disbursement of Rs. 400 million, which has been set aside to clear outstanding dues to newspapers, emphasising the need for action before the funds lapse on June 30.

Chairman Shah highlighted the severe financial strain newspapers have been under due to non-payment over the past four months. He pointed out that commercial advertising is nearly absent in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, making government advertisements crucial for the survival of print media. Shah also advocated for fair representation of Peshawar-based newspapers in the allocation of display advertisements.

In response, Information Secretary Matiullah Khan assured the delegation that no funds would lapse and that all approved amounts would be released promptly. He also committed to ensuring that the distribution of advertisements would be transparent, based on merit, and offer equal opportunity for all eligible publications.

The delegation expressed appreciation for the secretary’s assurances, hoping that the measures would alleviate the financial challenges of newspapers and contribute to the stability and sustainability of print media in the province.

The meeting was attended by several representatives from various publications, including Ashraf Dar of Roznama Awam Un Naas, Bilal Afridi of Daily Frontier Post, Qaiser Rizvi of Roznama Jadid Peshawar, Sardar Naeem of Roznama Qaid, Javed Afridi of Roznama Paigham-e-Khyber, and others.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the delegation thanked the Information Secretary. Members of the journalist community described the engagement as a positive step toward resolving longstanding issues and strengthening the print media sector in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Earlier this year, in April, the APNS expressed gratitude to the KP government for releasing funds to clear Rs 40 crores in outstanding advertisement dues owed to newspapers. The APNS particularly extended appreciation to KP Advisor Finance, Muzamil Aslam, following earlier discussions with APNS leadership, including President Sarmad Ali and Vice President Shahab Zuberi, in Karachi.

Aslam had previously assured the APNS that the issue would be addressed on a priority basis, approving a total payment of Rs 80 crores, with Rs 40 crores released immediately and the remainder to be dispensed in June.

Additionally, the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) engaged with Aslam, who pledged to resolve the longstanding issue of unpaid newspaper advertisement dues. The provincial government plans to clear the outstanding amount of Rs1.40 billion in two instalments. The CPNE had earlier filed a writ petition in the Peshawar High Court to recover advertisement dues pending for several years, leading the High Court to issue a contempt notice against the Secretary of Finance due to payment delays.