Media bodies have voiced significant apprehensions regarding the newly implemented “Balochistan Advertising Policy 2026,” which commenced on July 1.

The policy introduces an automated system for issuing all “Tender Notices, Auction Notices, Pre-Qualification Notices, and Advertisements of Expression of Interest (EOI),” which is feared to severely impact the financial stability of newspapers and potentially distance the provincial government from the media sector.

The All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) and the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) both criticised the move, highlighting that restricting the publication of certain advertisements in print could lead to a decline in newspaper revenues and restrict bidders from receiving crucial information.

APNS argues this could adversely affect the transparency of the government procurement process and increase the risk of corruption. APNS added that restricting publication of the advertisements in newspapers will cause a “severe financial crisis” for the newspaper industry in Balochistan and impact the cordial relations between the government and the press.

Previously, the Punjab government introduced a similar policy but retracted it following protests and appeals from the APNS.

The CPNE also raised concerns about the draft policy’s lack of a comprehensive regulatory framework and clear operational guidelines, believing this could lead to issues with transparency and impartiality in its execution. The body criticised the policy for discriminatory eligibility criteria between print and digital media, noting that such discrepancies could allow unregulated digital entities easier access to public advertising, potentially undermining journalistic credibility.

Additionally, the CPNE opposes the policy’s approach of initially allocating government advertisements to only two newspapers. This method could centralise advertising opportunities, disadvantaging numerous national, regional, and local publications, thereby threatening the viability of community-based journalism in the region.

Highlighting infrastructural challenges in Balochistan, such as inadequate internet connectivity and limited digital access, the CPNE argues that a policy heavily skewed towards digital platforms is impractical under current conditions. It contrasts this with other provinces like Sindh, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which have adopted more balanced approaches toward print and digital media.