Media in Pakistan

Welcome to Media in Pakistan, your dedicated source for the latest stories about the Pakistani media landscape. Discover news about journalist movements, press freedom, attacks on media professionals, and developments within news organizations. Stay updated on the dynamic world of Pakistani journalism and get timely insights into the industry.

From regulation to resignations: Pakistan's media fault lines

From regulation to resignations: Pakistan's media fault lines

 Published 3 days ago:  Pakistan's media faced regulatory scrutiny, leadership changes and digital consolidation, highlighting industry stress and rising international recognition.

Five stories showing pressure on Pakistan media

Five stories showing pressure on Pakistan media

 Published last week:  Five incidents show growing legal, economic and state pressure on Pakistan's media, from cybercrime cases and opaque ads to layoffs and access constraints.

A global story, locally missing: Pakistan media under scrutiny

A global story, locally missing: Pakistan media under scrutiny

 Published last week:  Pakistan's media received global attention during Iran-US talks in Islamabad but mostly ran agency tickers and official optics, exposing gaps in beat reporting.

Islamabad Talks: Access is the first casualty of journalism

Islamabad Talks: Access is the first casualty of journalism

 Published last week:  As US-Iran talks in Islamabad concluded, journalists reported that tight security and enforced perimeters limited direct access and source engagement, constraining real-time reporting.

Pakistan journalists flag access issues at Iran-US talks

Pakistan journalists flag access issues at Iran-US talks

 Published last week:  Pakistani journalists say they faced restricted access and unequal accreditation at Iran-US diplomatic events, citing limited communication by media teams.

Pakistan opens visa-on-arrival for foreign journalists

Pakistan opens visa-on-arrival for foreign journalists

 Published last week:  Pakistan will allow visa-on-arrival for foreign journalists and delegates attending the Islamabad Talks 2026; local media reportedly face restrictions on live reporting.

Pakistan assembly queries on ad spending go unanswered

Pakistan assembly queries on ad spending go unanswered

 Published 2 weeks ago:  Lawmakers received no answers from Pakistan's Information Ministry on media ad spending, raising concerns over transparency in allocation of public funds.

Pakistan journalist health scheme sees low uptake

Pakistan journalist health scheme sees low uptake

 Published 2 weeks ago:  A government health insurance scheme for journalists recorded low uptake, with only 187 of 4,537 enrolled media workers accessing benefits since July 2024.

Abbas Nasir's Dawn farewell underscores industry strain

Abbas Nasir's Dawn farewell underscores industry strain

 Published 2 weeks ago:  Abbas Nasir concluded a 15-year stint as a Dawn columnist with a farewell, mixing gratitude, family sacrifice, and a warning about mounting pressure on editorial freedom.

The rise and fall of Pakistan's TV anchors: 5 factors you need to know

The rise and fall of Pakistan's TV anchors: 5 factors you need to know

 Published 2 weeks ago:  Pakistan's television anchors once dominated national discourse, but shifts to digital platforms, channel influence and regulatory pressure have reshaped careers.

Pakistan social media tax proposal sparks digital economy concerns

Pakistan social media tax proposal sparks digital economy concerns

 Published 2 weeks ago:  Pakistan's draft would tax social media creators using subscriber and view thresholds plus formulaic income estimates to bring online earners under the tax net.

Veteran editor Shahbaz Bhatti dies after long illness

Veteran editor Shahbaz Bhatti dies after long illness

 Published 2 weeks ago:  Veteran Pakistani journalist Shahbaz Bhatti, senior news editor at The Nation for over three decades, died after a prolonged illness, officials confirmed.

From PECA to paychecks: What defined Pakistan's media in March

From PECA to paychecks: What defined Pakistan's media in March

 Published 3 weeks ago:  March reshaped Pakistan's media: intensified legal pressure, deepening financial distress with salary delays, and a renewed push toward digital transformation.

Journalist protests unpaid dues, targets media owner

Journalist protests unpaid dues, targets media owner

 Published 3 weeks ago:  Former The Nation reporter protests in Islamabad, alleging Rs6.2 million in unpaid salaries and long-delayed dues.

PFUJ calls for probe after Israel kills three journalists

PFUJ calls for probe after Israel kills three journalists

 Published 3 weeks ago:  PFUJ condemned an Israeli strike that killed three journalists in southern Lebanon and demanded an independent investigation into the attack.

Pakistan's media faces five warning signs of shrinking space

Pakistan's media faces five warning signs of shrinking space

 Published 3 weeks ago:  Pakistani journalists face legal, digital and economic pressures that are shrinking civic space and undermining independent reporting in media and online.

Journalist robbed during PTI protest coverage in Rawalpindi

Journalist robbed during PTI protest coverage in Rawalpindi

 Published 3 weeks ago:  A journalist covering a PTI protest near Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi reported his car window was smashed and his bag, including a laptop and passport, was stolen.

Veteran journalist Khan Nisar dies at 79 in Islamabad

Veteran journalist Khan Nisar dies at 79 in Islamabad

 Published last month:  Khan Mohammad Nisar, a veteran journalist and labor unionist known for advocacy of workers' rights and leadership at The Muslim, died in Islamabad at 79.

Journalist who exposed Toshakhana case dies in Islamabad

Journalist who exposed Toshakhana case dies in Islamabad

 Published last month:  Rana Ibrar Khalid, the journalist known for reporting on the Toshakhana case, has died in Islamabad after a prolonged illness, prompting tributes from colleagues and renewed focus on investigative journalism in Pakistan.

Press groups urge Pakistan to halt Afghan journalist deportations

Press groups urge Pakistan to halt Afghan journalist deportations

 Published last month:  Press freedom groups urge Pakistan to stop arresting, detaining, and deporting Afghan journalists in exile, warning that forced returns expose them to grave risks.

NPC election chief explains delay in poll results

NPC election chief explains delay in poll results

 Published last month:  The NPC election committee attributed the delay in announcing the March 12, 2026, results to jointly agreed changes to ballot papers and a complex vote-counting procedure.

Tweet prompts release of Afghan journalist and family

Tweet prompts release of Afghan journalist and family

 Published last month:  An Afghan journalist and his family were released from Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail after Pakistan's interior minister intervened following a journalist's tweet.

Press Club earthquake: How the Democrats ended two decades of dominance in Islamabad

Press Club earthquake: How the Democrats ended two decades of dominance in Islamabad

 Published last month:  Our in-depth analysis of the National Press Club elections examines how the Democrats Panel ended the Journalist Panel's 20-year dominance.

Democrats topple once-mighty Journalist Panel in NPC vote

Democrats topple once-mighty Journalist Panel in NPC vote

 Published last month:  Democrats Panel ended over two decades of Journalist Panel control at the National Press Club, winning key posts amid narrow margins and delayed tallies.

Election shock: Democrats Panel claims secretary seat amid vote-count delay

Election shock: Democrats Panel claims secretary seat amid vote-count delay

 Published last month:  Vote counting at the National Press Club in Islamabad extended well into Friday, sparking transparency concerns as the Democrats Panel took the secretary's seat amid lengthy delays.

CPJ expresses alarm over Pakistan's 'red line' remarks to journalists

CPJ expresses alarm over Pakistan's 'red line' remarks to journalists

 Published last month:  CPJ voices concern that Pakistan's law minister's 'red line' remarks risk chilling reporting on foreign policy by suggesting legal action against commentators.

Red lines and free speech: What Pakistan's warning to media means

Red lines and free speech: What Pakistan's warning to media means

 Published last month:  An analysis of Pakistan Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar's warning to journalists on foreign policy commentary and what it could mean for press freedom, public debate, and media responsibility.

Pakistan warns media not to cross 'red line' on foreign policy

Pakistan warns media not to cross 'red line' on foreign policy

 Published last month:  Pakistan's law minister warned journalists and social media users not to cross constitutional 'red lines' when discussing foreign policy, citing Article 19 limits and possible legal consequences.