Balochistan Digital Publishers Forum Rejects 2026 Advertising Policy, Alleges Risk of Corruption

QUETTA: The Balochistan Digital Publishers Forum (BDPF) has rejected the Balochistan Advertisement Policy 2026, which came into effect on July 1, calling it ambiguous, incomplete, and detrimental to both the digital and print media sectors.

In a statement issued after an online consultative meeting chaired by Syed Ali Shah of Quetta Voice, forum members expressed serious concerns that the policy was introduced without consulting key media stakeholders. They argued that its implementation could damage the media industry, create unemployment in the print sector, and open new avenues for corruption in the allocation of government advertisements.

The forum alleged that, within the first ten days of the policy’s implementation, government advertisements had been issued to newly created or little-known websites with little or no web traffic. According to the forum, this raises concerns about favoritism and a lack of transparency in the distribution of digital advertising.

Representatives from Daily Intikhab, Daily Azadi, Daily Qudrat, and Daily Al Jazeera participated in the meeting and criticized the absence of clear eligibility criteria for digital media outlets. They noted that while newspapers must fulfill strict requirements, including several years of continuous publication to qualify for the central media list, the new policy does not define comparable standards for digital platforms.

The forum also warned that the policy poses a serious threat to Balochistan’s established print media. It criticized the reported restriction of government tenders and advertisements to only a limited number of newspapers, arguing that such a practice is inconsistent with advertising policies in other provinces and at the federal level, where government advertisements are distributed more broadly among eligible publications.

The BDPF called on the Government of Balochistan to immediately withdraw the policy and initiate comprehensive consultations with all stakeholders, including representatives of both print and digital media. It urged the provincial government to formulate a transparent, practical, and merit-based advertising policy that protects the sustainability of the media industry while ensuring fairness and accountability in the allocation of public advertisements.