Caretaker Sindh Minister for Information, Social Security and Minority Affairs Muhammad Ahmad Shah has said that they are well aware of the problems of the media and the provincial government will pay about Rs2 billion for advertisements to the media for three quarters this month.

“The transparency of the caretaker Sindh government is in front of everyone. We are also ready to conduct the elections on Feb 8, 2024 and funds have also been released,” the interim minister said while addressing the ‘Meet the Editors’ programme organised by the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) here.

Information Secretary Nadeem Memon, CPNE Sindh Vice President Aamir Mehmood, General Secretary Ejazul Haq and editors of various newspapers and magazines were also present.

“We are working on the payments for three quarters. We want to release Rs1.5 billion to make current payments to the media while the volume of advertisements is worth Rs2.35 billion of which we will try to make payments of about Rs2 billion this month.”

He said that no one will be wronged under the caretaker government. “Advertisements will be given to national and regional newspapers and they will also be paid.”

The minister said that under the World Bank’s social protection, any woman who became pregnant in the 17 poorest districts of Sindh should get registered at the nearest basic health unit in order to be paid Rs30,000 for her and her child’s health.

“Half of the amount will be paid on the first day. For this, the WB has a share of $200 million and the Sindh government's is $20 million,” he said, adding that an awareness campaign regarding this would soon be started.

To a question related to making headways in the murder case of journalist Jan Muhammad Meher, Ahmad said that Khairpur senior superintendent of police has forwarded a summary regarding imposing Rs5 million head money on the main accused, which will be approved soon.

“Sindh inspector general of police is present in Sukkur … a day later the Sindh chief minister will also meet DG Rangers to help in action against the bandits.”

Ahmad was presented a shield by CPNE Secretary General Haq and a traditional reward by Vice President Mehmood.

Earlier, Mehmood thanked the caretaker information minister for visiting the CPNE office.

CPNE Secretary General Haq said, “There are old payments of Rs700 million to Rs800 million due which are four to five years old. At that time, the finance department had sent a summary of about Rs2.5 billion for current payments, one of which about Rs500 million had been sanctioned for one quarter.

“We want to ensure payment of at least one more quarter.”