News Desk:
The Editors Council Journals (Registered) Balochistan held a meeting under the chairmanship of Council President Abdul Ghaffar Langov, where significant satisfaction was expressed regarding the provincial government’s decision to increase the budget for advertising and publicity by approximately 70% for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, raising it to 613 million rupees.
The council commended the untiring efforts of several key government officials, including Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, Provincial Finance Minister Shoaib Noshirwani, Balochistan Government Spokesperson Shahid Rind, Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan, Information Secretary Imran Khan, Secretary Finance Babar Khan, Director General Public Relations Mohammad Noor Khetran, Director Public Relations Saeed Ahmed Shahwani, Deputy Director General Public Relations Waqas Shaheen, and Assistant Director Public Relations Manzoor Ahmad Magsi. Their dedication was instrumental in achieving the budget increase, which is a first in the history of the province.
During the meeting, members acknowledged the severe impact of the current high inflation, noting that journals are facing numerous challenges and are being printed under difficult conditions. The council highlighted the critical role of the newspaper industry in providing large-scale employment within the private sector, particularly in Balochistan, where newspapers are heavily reliant on government advertisements. This reliance makes newspaper ownership essential for the fair distribution of advertisements.
The council praised the provincial government’s historic budget increase for the public relations department, emphasizing that all involved government officials deserve recognition for their efforts. The members expressed hope that the government will continue to support newspapers and journals, further increasing the advertising budget to help them navigate the challenges posed by rising inflation. Strengthening the relationship between the government and the press is seen as vital for the stability and growth of the province’s media sector.
