On July 30, the Peshawar High Court directed newspaper owners in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to settle all outstanding salaries and dues of journalists and media employees within one month, warning of potential legal consequences in case of failure to comply. Outstanding dues to journalists were estimated at around Rs 15 million. The advocate general also highlighted the broader issue of labour rights within the media sector. He indicated that non-compliance with minimum wage laws could lead to legal proceedings, referencing previous similar actions concerning labour rights violations. The advocate general also suggested that salaries be paid through bank transactions to ensure transparency.