BBC denies closing down Karachi office

JournalismPakistan.com | Published 12 years ago

KARACHI: The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has denied shutting down its Karachi office.

Daily Times quoted a BBC spokesman as saying the corporation’s Karachi bureau office is not closed and is functioning normally. “Whilst we do not routinely comment on our security procedures, we do, of course, monitor the security conditions wherever we have bureaus, and we take practical measures in response to any potential threats.”

“We have had security concerns in Karachi from time to time but our bureau there is fully operating.”

On Tuesday INP reported the BBC had closed down its office following threats from a political party.

Dive Deeper

AI-generated video falsely links Imran Khan sister to war comments

December 03, 2025: Prominent journalist issues warning over a fabricated deepfake video falsely claiming her Sky News interview featured a 2025 Pakistan-India war discussion, part of rising digital misinformation campaigns.

Pakistan forms commission to protect journalists and media workers

December 02, 2025: Pakistan has established an independent commission to protect journalists and media workers, aiming to strengthen press freedom, address threats, and improve welfare measures nationwide.

Hamid Mir links Sohrab Barkat's arrest to broader pressures on Pakistani media

December 01, 2025: Hamid Mir addresses criticism of his views on press freedom as he highlights the arrest of young journalist Sohrab Barkat despite a court order permitting travel abroad.

Hamid Mir defends detained journalist Sohrab Barkat

November 30, 2025: Veteran anchor Hamid Mir has publicly defended detained journalist Sohrab Barkat, questioning state actions after Barkat’s airport arrest and raising international concern over press freedoms in Pakistan.

Sohrab Barkat’s airport arrest defies court directive

November 27, 2025: Journalist Sohrab Barkatt was detained at Islamabad Airport despite a court order removing his name from the PNIL, raising concerns about rule-of-law gaps and media freedoms.

Najam Sethi to debut new show on Dunya News

November 26, 2025: Najam Sethi will host a new prime-time show on Dunya News following his departure from Samaa TV, signaling a key move in Pakistan’s competitive media landscape.

Shalimar Recording Company to terminate all staff

November 26, 2025: Shalimar Recording and Broadcasting Company (SRBC) will cease operations and terminate all personnel by Nov 30, 2025, as ordered under court-supervised liquidation, affecting hundreds of employees.

Lahore journalists reported missing after by-election coverage

November 25, 2025: Two Lahore-based digital journalists went missing after covering the alleged by-election irregularities, with colleagues alleging police involvement and no court appearance reported.

Newsroom

Rainforest grant offers support for global environmental reporting

December 03, 2025 The Rainforest Reporting Grant offers rolling, project-based funding for journalists covering tropical forests, biodiversity, Indigenous rights, and environmental issues across three global regions.

Fund for Investigative Journalism opens 2026 grant cycle

December 03, 2025 The Fund for Investigative Journalism has opened its 2026 grant cycle, offering support for investigative reporters through regular, seed, follow-up, and diversity-focused grant programs.

Kazakhstan urged to drop charges against Orda editor

December 03, 2025 CPJ urges Kazakhstan to drop false information charges against Orda editor Gulnara Bazhkenova after police raids in Astana and Almaty and escalating pressure on independent media.

Myanmar frees two jailed journalists in mass amnesty ahead of election

December 02, 2025 Myanmar’s military government has released two prominent journalists as part of a mass prisoner amnesty, raising cautious hopes and questions about press freedom ahead of the December 2025 election

White House page on media bias raises press freedom concerns

December 02, 2025 A new White House page on media bias has raised concerns from the Committee to Protect Journalists, which says the site undermines independent reporting and press freedom.