Media Layoffs reports on the sudden terminations and pay cuts affecting journalists and media professionals across Pakistan. This section explores the causes, impact on media diversity and independence, and the wider implications for the country’s journalism landscape.
June 19, 2020: Urdu newspaper Jehan Pakistan has laid off four reporters and seven newsroom staff in Islamabad, shifting to an online-only format. The management has promised to settle all dues, including three months' wages, for the terminated employees.
May 03, 2020: ARY Digital Network announces a three-month salary cut to cope with the financial crisis due to COVID-19, exempting staff earning up to Rs100,000. DawnNews Television also reduces salaries by 10 percent.
May 01, 2020: DawnNews Television cuts staff salaries by 10 percent and halves fuel allowances amid ongoing financial challenges. This marks the third pay cut in a year, highlighting the severe impact on Pakistani journalists facing layoffs and delayed salaries since 2018.
March 05, 2020: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) condemns the sudden closure of the Daily Asian newspaper, which left 60 journalists jobless. PFUJ urges the government to regulate media licenses to prevent misuse.
October 02, 2019: ARY News and Aaj News Television have terminated 150 employees as part of a downsizing strategy, drawing condemnation from the IFJ and PFUJ. This follows previous layoffs at Dunya News, highlighting growing concerns over job security and unpaid wages for journalists in Pakistan.
October 01, 2019: Dunya Media Group has terminated over 80 employees from its Multan station, following similar layoffs in Lahore. The company plans to centralize operations with fewer staff. The move, which includes paying three months' salaries to laid-off employees, has faced condemnation from journalist unions and the IFJ.
September 26, 2019: Aaj News Television has laid off about a dozen employees from its Lahore and Islamabad offices, including assignment editors, reporters, and camerapersons. The terminations were reportedly abrupt, with no prior notice and no payment for three months' salaries as required by contract.
September 25, 2019: 24 News has terminated Sajid Mughal, their Malikwal correspondent, reportedly due to pressure from a political figure. Mughal had recently reported on an audio involving Muhammad Khan Bhatti, which led to his house being occupied and false FIRs filed against him. He claims his dismissal was without a show-cause notice or reason.
August 29, 2019: The Dunya Media Group has laid off 70 employees from Dunya News Television, marking one of the largest job cuts in Pakistani media in the past year. Journalist bodies have condemned the move, demanding the reinstatement of the sacked staff and a government ban on advertisements for media houses that terminate employees.
February 21, 2019: Business Recorder has announced a 20 percent pay cut for its Islamabad staff, affecting 14 reporters and a sub-editor due to falling revenues and a decline in advertising. This follows a similar move by Dawn, which imposed a 40 percent salary cut.
February 14, 2019: Urdu language newspaper Ausaf has laid off nearly 20 employees in Karachi over the past ten days, with more terminations expected. The management aims to centralize operations in Islamabad, affecting staff across various departments.
January 30, 2019: The Dawn Media Group has announced a 40 percent salary cut for its staff starting February 1, 2019, due to falling advertising revenue and rising operational costs. This decision makes Dawn the first newspaper in Pakistan to reduce wages amid the ongoing media crisis.
January 23, 2019: Geo News Television has laid off several employees, including reporters and sub-editors, from its Peshawar center as part of a plan to balance revenues and expenses. The network is also cutting salaries by 20 percent for those earning over Rs 0.4 million per month and 10 percent for those earning between Rs 110k and Rs 400k.
January 08, 2019: The Express Media Group continues its wave of layoffs, with the latest terminations at Daily Express in Peshawar, where the news editor and four sub-editors were fired. The group's ongoing downsizing efforts have also led to shutting down its English language television channel Tribune 24-7, resulting in over 100 job losses, and the sacking of The Express Tribune's reporting team in Peshawar.
December 22, 2018: The Jang Group has continued its job cuts by terminating eight staffers from the marketing department. This follows recent layoffs affecting hundreds of employees, including 150 in Rawalpindi. The media group has also shut down several publications, including Waqt, Inqilab, and Daily News, amidst ongoing protests by journalist unions.
November 18, 2018: The Express Tribune has laid off the remaining reporters at its Peshawar office, including senior journalists Riaz Ahmed, Sohail Khattak, and Hidayatullah Khan. With these latest terminations, only a translator remains at the office. The management has promised three months' salary to the terminated staff.
November 13, 2018: In its latest round of layoffs, The Express Tribune has fired six reporters from its Karachi center, covering sports, city, and business beats. This follows recent terminations at the Islamabad center and is part of the Express Media Group’s plan to merge its newspapers and television operations.
November 04, 2018: DawnNews Television continues layoffs, with senior journalist Nusrat Javeed and his program 'Bol Bol Pakistan' being the latest victims. Javeed, opting to leave immediately, is part of ongoing job cuts due to financial difficulties. The show's closure affects all associated staff.
October 30, 2018: DawnNews Television has issued termination notices to anchors Baqir Sajjad Syed and Jawad Ahmed Siddiqi, along with their team members, citing financial crunch. JournalismPakistan.com reported these terminations, affecting producers, researchers, and coordinators, with notices ending on November 27.
October 30, 2018: Waqt News Television has shut down operations in Pakistan, sacking all staff after 10 years of broadcasting. The closure followed the termination of hundreds of employees, including top anchor Matiullah Jan. Protests by journalist unions erupted, demanding answers from the Nawa-i-Waqt Media Group.
October 27, 2018: DawnNews Television has terminated top anchors Baqir Sajjad Syed and Jawad Ahmed Siddiqi and imposed a 10 percent salary and fuel cut on regular staff. These changes follow similar actions at other TV channels and newspapers amid a broader media industry crisis.
October 23, 2018: Following the dismissal of top presenter Matiullah Jan, Waqt News Television has fired nearly 30 staffers in Islamabad, including reporters Rehan Shaikh, Aimen Syed, and Imtiaz Chughtai. The terminations come amid a broader media industry crisis, with unpaid salaries and grounded news vehicles.
October 22, 2018: Dunya News Television has terminated two senior cameramen, Nayar Abbas, and Kashif Bajwa, along with the head of their IT Section. This move is part of the broader financial crisis affecting the media industry in Pakistan.
October 19, 2018: BOL News has reportedly terminated over 250 employees without paying nearly six months of outstanding salaries. The abrupt sackings led to protests at the Karachi office, a day after the Supreme Court ordered BOL to pay staff within a month. The channel claims to be Pakistan’s biggest media house.
October 18, 2018: Waqt News has fired prominent journalist Matiullah Jan, host of "Apna Apna Gareban," after six years. Jan announced his sacking on Twitter, thanking his organization and colleagues. Speculations arise that the termination may be linked to his program's ratings.
October 12, 2018: The Express Tribune has sacked eight reporters from its Islamabad center, including its chief reporter. The decision has drawn condemnation from the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ), which has vowed to protest the layoffs. This move is part of the Express Media Group's plan to merge its newspapers and television operations.
October 09, 2018: The Express Media Group is implementing a series of staff layoffs following the merger of The Express Tribune, Daily Express, and Express-News Television. Insiders report that Qadeer Tanoli and Shahzad Anwar are among those terminated as part of a broader austerity drive. The consolidation will involve reporters working across multiple platforms.
August 03, 2018: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the retrenchment of Geo TV employees, accusing the channel of contempt of court. Alongside Geo, Nai Baat and Neo TV have also sacked staff. PFUJ demands the reinstatement of employees and payment of salaries as ordered by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.