QUETTA: Central General Secretary of the Pukhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal, has condemned the BPPRA (Balochistan Public Procurement Regulatory Authority) policy as a calculated and unfortunate conspiracy against the newspaper industry in Balochistan.
He made these remarks during a visit to the protest camp of the Action Committee for Print Media, where he assured full cooperation and support at all levels to the protesting media representatives.
Accompanied by a delegation, Ziaratwal met with Action Committee leaders including Haji Abdul Ghaffar Lango and Secretary General Murtaza Tareen, who briefed him on the key issues facing the industry.
These include the government’s move to route advertisements through BPPRA, challenges in newspaper circulation, and increasing interference by non-elected individuals overseeing the province’s information ministry.
According to the Action Committee, these policies are aimed at strangling the media in an authoritarian manner, risking massive unemployment and replacing credible journalism with unprincipled content driven by financial exploitation and blackmail.
Ziaratwal emphasized that in a province already suffering from a lack of industries, collapsing agriculture, and minimal employment opportunities, targeting newspapers under the guise of BPPRA policies is deeply concerning.
He stated that PkMAP categorically rejects any such tactics and will continue to stand by the newspaper community in their legitimate demands.
He further added that freedom of expression is already under serious threat, and now the government appears to be pushing the print media sector toward unofficial closure in Balochistan.
“We identified this agenda from day one,” he said. “Now it’s becoming evident to all as the authorities start snatching livelihoods and suppressing voices. These are not public representatives—they have no concern for the people.”
Ziaratwal reaffirmed his party’s full support for the Action Committee’s charter of demands and made it clear that PkMAP will play an active role on every platform to ensure the survival and dignity of the newspaper industry.
ALSO READ: Repeating Operation Sandoor will hurt us: Indian Newspaper
He concluded by saying that PkMAP stands firmly with the media in this critical time and will not support any move that negatively impacts the people of Balochistan.
