Rohi TV sacks 36 staff as Pakistan media layoffs deepen
JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 7 July 2026 | JP Staff Report
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Rohi TV's new management dismissed 36 staff across editorial and production, including NLEs, anchors, reporters and camerapersons, drawing criticism from journalist unions and press freedom groups. The cuts add to recent layoffs in Pakistan's TV sector.Summary
ISLAMABAD—A round of layoffs at Rohi TV has left 36 media workers without jobs, intensifying concerns over employment security in Pakistan's struggling broadcast industry.
The dismissals, carried out by the channel's new management, affected a cross-section of editorial and production staff, including five non-linear editors (NLEs), two anchors, nine reporters, two assignment editors, four camerapersons, and other employees. Press freedom advocates and journalist representatives have called for the immediate reinstatement of those affected, arguing that the decision has placed dozens of families under severe financial strain during an already difficult economic period.
Employment crisis widens across the television sector
The latest cuts add to a series of layoffs that have swept Pakistan's television industry in recent months. In May, Suno News TV dismissed around 160 employees without paying April salaries, shut down its Quetta bureau, and terminated additional staff members, drawing condemnation from journalists' organizations and renewed scrutiny of labor practices within the media industry.
The Rohi TV dismissals also come against the backdrop of repeated warnings by journalist unions that economic pressures are eroding job security across news organizations. Media groups have increasingly raised concerns over delayed salaries, newsroom restructuring, and workforce reductions that they say threaten both journalists' livelihoods and the long-term sustainability of news organizations.
Journalist unions raise alarm
In June, the Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) condemned the dismissal of journalists and media workers at Aik News, calling for their immediate reinstatement and urging authorities to intervene. The union said journalists were already struggling with inflation, economic uncertainty, and deteriorating employment protections.
Earlier, in March, KUJ criticized what it described as illegal nationwide layoffs at Aaj TV, alleging employees in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and Quetta had been dismissed without notice while remaining unpaid for months. In April, the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) similarly condemned another round of layoffs at Aaj News TV after 14 staff members were reportedly dismissed from its Islamabad operations amid unpaid salaries and newsroom restructuring.
The succession of workforce reductions across several broadcasters has highlighted mounting financial pressures confronting Pakistan's television industry. Journalist organizations have repeatedly argued that staff reductions should not become the default response to economic challenges and have urged media owners, regulators, and policymakers to pursue solutions that protect employment while ensuring the viability of news organizations.
WHY THIS MATTERS: The Rohi TV layoffs reinforce concerns that newsroom downsizing is becoming an industry-wide trend rather than isolated incidents. For journalists and media organizations, continued workforce reductions risk weakening editorial capacity, institutional knowledge, and the overall resilience of Pakistan's news ecosystem while raising important questions about labor protections in the media sector.
ATTRIBUTION: Reporting by JournalismPakistan, based on publicly available information provided to JP and previous public statements by the Karachi Union of Journalists (March and June 2026) and the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (April 2026).
PHOTO: AI-generated; for illustrative purposes only.
Key Points
- Rohi TV's new management has dismissed 36 employees from editorial and production roles.
- Affected staff include NLEs, anchors, reporters, assignment editors, camerapersons and other employees.
- Journalist unions and press freedom groups have called for immediate reinstatement.
- The layoffs add to wider job cuts in Pakistan's television sector, including recent Suno News dismissals.
- Unions warn of delayed salaries, newsroom restructuring and growing employment insecurity for media workers.
Key Questions & Answers
Why were employees dismissed from Rohi TV?
The article states the dismissals were carried out by the channel's new management; no further official reasons were reported in the report.
Which categories of staff were affected?
The cuts affected a cross-section of editorial and production staff, including NLEs, anchors, reporters, assignment editors, camerapersons and other employees.
What are journalist unions demanding?
Journalist unions and press freedom groups have called for the immediate reinstatement of those dismissed and raised concerns about the financial strain on affected families.
Is this part of a wider trend in Pakistan's media?
Yes. The dismissals follow other recent layoffs in the television sector, including large cuts at Suno News, and reflect broader concerns about delayed salaries and restructuring in the industry.
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