JournalismPakistan.com | Published August 11, 2012
Join our WhatsApp channel
PESHAWAR: Reports that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government planned to distribute cash among journalists have created divisions within the journalistic community in Peshawar.
The provincial government, however, apparently scrapped its plans after the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) said it meant bribing journalists.
The money was to be given away by the government to what some point out were their ‘blue-eyed journalists.’ The government’s intention, they say, was to avoid bad press.
Interestingly, the debate at this point is not about who gets the money or who doesn’t – many journalists are angered why they were actually left out.
Both the Khyber Union of Journalists and the Peshawar Press Club deny they had any hand in compiling the list. Some former office-bearers have expressed their ignorance.
The amount which was to be distributed is said to be Rs4 million.
There are journalists who say this amount should be given to the press club instead so that it could be spent on providing and improving certain facilities at the club for the benefit of everyone.
They disclosed that according to an earlier plan, the government intended to give away an amount of Rs1.5 million to the press club with the rest being distributed among journalists.
However, they feel the government could still give away the money to its ‘favorite’ journalists through the backdoor while at the same time pointing out the list could not be kept secret for too long.
The PFUJ’s Assistant Secretary General, Khalid Khan Kheshgi had said earlier: “Distributing money will harm the integrity of the entire journalist community and the sacred profession of journalism.”
February 26, 2025: An in-depth analysis of the Punjab Government's excessive self-promotion through media, costing taxpayers millions while masquerading propaganda as achievements.
February 25, 2025: The Punjab government faces criticism for spending millions in taxpayer money on misleading front-page advertisements across major Pakistani newspapers, raising serious questions about media integrity and public resource management.
January 23, 2025: An in-depth look at the recent scuffle on a Pakistani talk show, its implications for media ethics, and the urgent need for TV channels to uphold decorum during debates.
December 18, 2024: A critical examination of dangerous medical misinformation broadcast on Pakistan Television, exposing how political propaganda can potentially harm cancer patients by spreading false treatment narratives.
December 17, 2024: Geo News faces criticism after a homophobic tweet targeting Richard Grenell, a Trump advisor advocating for Imran Khan's release, which was subsequently deleted.
November 29, 2024: Suno TV faces criticism for targeting senior journalist Matiullah Jan with a smear campaign following his controversial abduction and arrest. This raises serious concerns about media ethics and press freedom in Pakistan.
August 17, 2024: A viral video exposes a shocking reality about Pakistani media, where fake news circulates unchecked. The clip, featuring a false report on the arrest of former IG of Jails, Shahid Saleem, highlights the pervasive issue of yellow journalism and raises questions about news credibility.
July 25, 2024: Dr. Omar Adil's sexist remarks against female journalists, including Gharidah Farooqi, have ignited widespread criticism, calling for full accountability and stronger actions against misogynistic language in the industry.
June 11, 2025 Pakistan celebrated a narrow win over Bangladesh, but beneath the jubilation lies a deeper crisis—from sidelined veterans to a collapsing domestic structure—signaling an urgent need for cricket reform.
June 11, 2025 Journalists walked out of the post-budget press conference in Islamabad to protest the absence of a technical briefing and the government's dismissive behavior, calling it unacceptable and intolerable.
May 31, 2025 Dr. Nauman Niaz has issued a defamation notice to Shoaib Akhtar over derogatory remarks made during a recent broadcast, reigniting a longstanding media feud between the two prominent figures in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025 The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has demanded the full repeal of PECA, citing its vague language, coercive powers, and threats to free speech and digital rights in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025 The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the murder of journalist Syed Mohammed Shah in Jacobabad, calling for urgent justice and improved safety for media professionals in Sindh.