PAKISTAN’S MEDIA FREEDOM SHRINKS FURTHER AS ONLY 16% OF JOURNALISTS CONSIDER PRESS “TRULY FREE” — STUDY
Media freedom in Pakistan continues to deteriorate, according to new global assessments that highlight mounting pressures on journalists across the country. The latest Worlds of Journalism Study reveals that only 16% of Pakistani journalists believe the media operates freely, while a significant majority cite political interference, institutional pressure and economic instability as primary obstacles to…
Media freedom in Pakistan continues to deteriorate, according to new global assessments that highlight mounting pressures on journalists across the country.
The latest Worlds of Journalism Study reveals that only 16% of Pakistani journalists believe the media operates freely, while a significant majority cite political interference, institutional pressure and economic instability as primary obstacles to independent reporting.
Pakistan has also slipped further down the 2024 World Press Freedom Index, falling to 152nd place, underscoring what watchdogs describe as an increasingly hostile environment for press freedom.
In 2024 alone, eight journalists were killed in various incidents across the country, with many more facing threats, violence, abductions and legal harassment.
Analysts say that political turbulence and restrictive state policies are playing a major role in tightening controls over the media landscape.
Despite high levels of education and professional training, nearly half of Pakistan’s journalists continue to experience job insecurity, raising concerns about the sustainability of independent journalism.
Media rights groups are urging the government to enact stronger protections for journalists, ensure accountability for attacks on media workers, and uphold constitutional guarantees for freedom of expression.
