Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi today announced a wide-ranging package of welfare initiatives for journalists, including interest-free loans, funding for media infrastructure and an increase in the provincial journalists’ endowment fund, reaffirming his government’s commitment to supporting an independent and responsible press.
Speaking during a meeting with representatives of the Peshawar Press Club, the chief minister said the provincial government had allocated Rs1 billion in the 2026-27 budget to provide interest-free loans to working journalists. He added that Rs500 million had been earmarked for the planning, feasibility studies and design of media colonies.
Afridi said the government had also allocated Rs150 million for the construction of a new Peshawar Press Club building, Rs300 million for the rehabilitation of district press clubs across the province and Rs100 million for the modernization and development of the information sector.
He announced that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Journalists Welfare Endowment Fund had been enhanced from Rs200 million to Rs500 million. In addition, he agreed in principle to establish a separate endowment fund for journalists in Peshawar as part of broader efforts to strengthen their welfare.
The chief minister said his administration remained committed to fostering a free, responsible and independent media while ensuring journalists worked in a secure and enabling environment. He added that improving the welfare of working journalists and enhancing their professional conditions ranked among the government’s top priorities alongside the development of media institutions.
Afridi directed the relevant authorities to ensure that the clearance of outstanding government advertising payments to media organisations would be linked to the settlement of journalists’ salaries, pending dues and compliance with the minimum wage.
He also instructed officials to consult members of the journalist community on the proposed New Peshawar Valley City Media Enclave project and ensure that the initiative was implemented in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
The chief minister further directed the authorities to arrange study tours for journalists to strengthen their professional skills and capacity.
During the meeting, the General Secretary of the Peshawar Press Club invited Afridi to visit the club and formally lay the foundation stone for its new building. The chief minister assured participants that the groundbreaking ceremony would be held in the near future.