Balochistan Newspaper Industry Action Committee Launches Symbolic Protest Camp Against Ad Policy Shift

Quetta — The Action Committee of the Balochistan Newspaper Industry organized a symbolic protest camp against the proposed transfer of government advertisements to BPPRA (Balochistan Public Procurement Regulatory Authority) and the ongoing challenges faced by the province’s only newspaper market due to lack of funding. Representatives from newspapers, journals, and the Newspaper Sellers Association participated in the protest.
During the camp, participants reiterated their demands, urging the government to take the matter seriously and prevent the collapse of the province’s only active industry — print media. They emphasized that such unilateral policy changes, introduced without consultation, will not be accepted and could provoke strong reactions from the media community.
The protesters warned that thousands of families depend on the newspapers and journals published in Balochistan and that shifting advertisement control to BPPRA would push the print media towards shutdown. They declared any such policy unacceptable if implemented without dialogue and consensus.
Furthermore, concerns were raised about the worsening condition of the province’s only newspaper market, which is facing serious challenges due to the non-release of government funds. Protesters demanded immediate disbursement of these funds.
The Action Committee announced that the symbolic protest camp would be held daily from 3 PM to 5 PM. If their demands are not met, they warned of expanding the protest into a broader movement across the province.