On February 20, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti announced that the Balochistan government is bringing a digital media policy in the province.
During a Balochistan Assembly question period, assembly member Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman raised concerns about the financial treatment of newspaper employees. He highlighted that despite newspapers receiving over 520 million PKR annually from advertisements, employees were not being compensated according to the government-mandated minimum wage. In response, Chief Minister Bugti said that print media readership in Balochistan was declining, noting a survey that found 70% of the population now gathers information through Facebook.
He said that the government continues to keep print media alives through advertisements but stressed the assembly’s unanimous view that newspaper owners must pay their employees at least the minimum wage.
In a responding statement, the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) on February 22, reacted to the Chief Minister’s comments about the dwindling newspaper readership in Balochistan. APNS said that newspapers remain the “most credible and authentic source of information for the people of Balochistan,” enhancing public awareness, fostering constructive dialogue, and ensuring accountability.
They called for the inclusion of newspaper owners, editors, and other stakeholders in formulating the new media policy, urging the government to take further steps to promote and develop print media.
Additionally, the Balochistan Union of Journalists welcomed the assembly’s focus on journalists’ salary issues. Leaders from the union expressed their appreciation for the Chief Minister’s response, which they found satisfactory and encouraging.
