KARACHI: The Sindh government has cancelled registrations of at least 75 ‘dummy newspapers’ with an aim to recover the millions of rupees paid to them for advertisement campaign in the last few years to ensure proper and transparent distribution of advertisement campaigns.

Sources privy to the matter told Pakistan Today that there are a large number of dummy newspapers which have been getting a larger share of the advertisement campaigns and tender notices by the officials of the Sindh’s information and archives department in return of heavy bribes and commission.

“The committee thoroughly investigated the printing, offices and staff details of these dummy newspapers and found no existence on the ground that led to the cancellation of the registration,” sources added.

The information and archives secretary has forwarded letters to the concerned deputy commissioners to take further disciplinary action against the dummy newspapers.

However, after Advisor to Chief Minister on Information and Archives, Anti-0Corruption and Law Murtaza Wahab took charge, a high-level committee was constituted to check the functioning of these dummy newspapers.

Murtaza Wahab while talking to Pakistan Today said that there were several complaints that the widely circulated national newspapers go unnoticed for large media campaigns and these dummy newspapers get several advertisements in connivance with the officials of information department.

“I have personally checked the advertisement data of past months and found that large newspapers have been ignored in advertisement distribution but we are working to ensure the fair distribution of ads among these newspapers now, Murtaza added.

The dummy newspapers whose registration have been cancelled included: Abhi Abhi, Abro Nama, Aftab-E-Sindh, Akash, Ansaf Times, Awami Halchal, Awaz-E-Sindh, Awami Jaiza, Ahl-E-Watan, Agwan, Al-Bayan Pakistan, Bani, Brunch Times, Citizens News, Civil Rights Journal, Command, Click News, Crime Watch, Dish Time, Dopahar, Evening News, First News, Fair Times, G.A Pakistan, Gate Way, Inkshaf-E-Haq, Islamabad Times, Jazbo, Jhati, Jihad, Kamyab, Kayhan, Latest News, Loke, Massai, Mehshar, Mutalba, Moassar, Media Post Coverage, Nawa-E-Watan, Naya Mahaz, Nai Duniya International, Outcome, Pak News International, Peace of Pakistan, Peoples Special, Pakistan Insight, Pak Hours, Qoumi Sahara, Quaid-E-Pakistan, Roshan Karachi, Sach Jo Awaz, Sadko, Shahwand, Sindh Cause, Sindh Globe, Sindh Media, Sindh Sabha, Sindh Star, Sindh Wasi, Sindhi Akhbar, Sitara-E-Sindh, Soonh, Sharafat, Sharafat (Sukkur), Saf Shikan, Super News, Super Sports, Tarjuman, Wachan, Pehli Khabar, Pakistan Express, Purhayat, and Pak Tajir News.