CM orders loans for media startups

Afridi unveils scheme to empower journalists

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, Muhammad Sohail Afridi, has directed officials to formulate a scheme for providing interest-free loans to establish media production and broadcasting setups.

The Chief Minister stated that the initiative would create self-employment opportunities for young journalists, enabling them to launch their own platforms. He emphasised that such steps would empower journalists, allowing them to perform their professional duties with greater independence.

The directives were issued during a high-level meeting chaired by CM Afridi to deliberate on the Annual Development Programme for the fiscal year 2026-27. The meeting reviewed proposed projects in various sectors, including Information and Public Relations, Science and Technology, Information Technology, Law, Mines and Minerals, and Labour.

Discussions also covered comprehensive proposals for the province's overall development, job creation, and institutional improvement.

In a special focus on journalist welfare and autonomy, the CM ordered the creation of a robust framework for interest-free loans. "Young journalists must have access to resources to become self-reliant and establish their own media ventures," he asserted.

Further directives included the formulation of comprehensive schemes for establishing media colonies for journalists and upgrading press clubs in the merged districts.

In the judicial sector, the CM ordered the establishment of daycare centres in all judicial complexes. Proposals for a Judicial Academy in Peshawar and new District Judicial Complexes in Bajaur and Mansehra were also considered. He instructed proposed amendments to further strengthen the Workplace Harassment Law and ensure complete confidentiality of the complaint process.

On labour and child protection, the CM stressed creating effective schemes to eliminate child labour and reintegrate affected children into the education system.

For the mining sector, he ordered large-scale tree plantation in mining zones and proposed measures to strengthen Mines Rescue, Safety, and Training Centres in the merged districts.