A monthly report on trends relating to state of journalism and media rights, policies and practices
Tracking:
Media related laws, policies and regulations
The state of media professionalisms
The state of media economy
Threats and attacks against journalists and information practitioners
Vol. 6, No. 3 – April 2026 Edition
Produced by Freedom Network – www.fnpk.org
SECTION 1: Media related laws, policies, regulations, mechanisms
- Freedom of expression (FOE)
- Right to information (RTI), access to information (ATI)
- Federal and provincial governments (relevant ministries and departments)
- Media related regulators (PPC, PEMRA, PTA)
- Regulatory issues related to print, electronic and digital media
Lahore High Court refuses to disclose policy on judges’ privileges
Date: April 25, 2026 – Source: Dawn
The Lahore High Court (LHC) refused to share its policy on judges’ privileges or vehicle use, citing exemption from the right to information (RTI) law. A private petition under the Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act 2013 had sought these details.
Citizens now able to file RTI requests online via NADRA’s digital portal
Date: April 25, 2026 – Source: Dawn
Citizens can now access district-level birth and death records and file right to information (RTI) requests online through a verified login, as the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) unveiled a new digital platform in a step towards modernizing its website.
SECTION 2: The state of media professionalisms
- Media independence issues
- Public interest journalism practices and challenges
- Ethical journalism issues
- The state of thematic journalism
- Community-focused media
- Misinformation / disinformation / fake news
Dawn Media, CVF-V20 partner to accelerate climate investment
Date: April 1, 2026 – Source: Dawn
The Climate Vulnerable Forum and the Vulnerable Twenty Group of Finance Ministers (CVF-V20) Secretariat and Dawn Media Group, led by Breathe Pakistan, the climate change awareness initiative, signed an agreement to collaborate on advancing climate action and investment mobilization.
APNS president, other executives elected for another term
Date: April 1, 2026 – Source: Dawn
Senator Sarmad Ali and Nazafreen Saigol Lakhani were unanimously re-elected as President and Senior Vice President, respectively, at an annual general meeting of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS).
Supreme Court judge for deciding defamation cases within six months
Date: April 1, 2026 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: The Law Today Pakistan
While hearing a set of appeals in a defamation case, Supreme Court Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb observed that under the law, such cases were typically between two parties and must be decided within six months.
Gilgit-Baltistan committee urges unified media strategy to fight extremism
Date: April 4, 2026 – Source: Dawn
The Gilgit-Baltistan Steering Committee on Information underscored the need for an integrated media strategy to counter terrorism and extremism, highlighting that national unity, social harmony, and public awareness were as vital to security as traditional protective measures.
The economic potential of music industry
Date: April 5, 2026 – Source: The News
The Resident Performer model – regular shows at one venue, adopted worldwide since the 1940s – offers a way forward. Government-backed creative hubs, like South Korea’s, could provide the support Pakistan’s artists lack. Music and technical training should also be integrated into education.
Media urged to avoid sensationalism in court reporting
Date: April 9, 2026 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: The News, Source 3: The Nation
Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar emphasized that while judicial verdicts were open to scrutiny and criticism, the media must avoid twisting facts or creating sensational narratives in court reporting.
Buffets, baristas, but no briefings: journalists frozen out of US-Iran talks
Date: April 11, 2026 – Source: France 24
Hundreds of journalists from around the world rushed to Islamabad’s media hub for US-Iran talks on ending the Middle East war. Yet as negotiations unfolded half a kilometer away behind closed doors, the global press could only wait – sipping coffee and listening to live folk music.
Pakistani journalists flag access issues at US-Iran talks
Date: April 11, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
Pakistani reporters reported facing restricted accreditation and unequal access at US-Iran diplomatic engagements In Islamabad, alleging that international journalists were given preferential treatment.
Islamabad’s Convention Center turns into media hub for US-Iran talks
Date: April 12, 2026 – Source: Dawn
The Jinnah Convention Center in Islamabad became a hub for foreign and local media as journalists covered the US-Iran talks. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar stated that over 50 journalists had arrived in Pakistan, facilitated by a temporary visa-on-arrival facility.
Date: April 12, 2026 – Source: The News
We are witnessing a subtle yet profound social shift, largely overlooked, as content creators on social media platforms increasingly use humor, sarcasm, and irony to shape opinion on armed conflict, state violence, and looming military escalation.
Indian media fails to digest Pakistan’s peacemaker role – and doesn’t hide it
Date: April 12, 2026 – Source: Express Tribune
True to its pattern of criticizing Pakistan, Indian broadcast media and its excitable anchorpersons sought to undermine Islamabad’s diplomatic efforts, even questioning the viability of the ‘Islamabad Talks’. In doing so, they further eroded their limited credibility and drew criticism for sensationalism.
Pakistan’s media divide deepens following US-Iran talks
Date: April 13, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
Social media reactions to the US-Iran talks sparked a heated debate in Pakistan among journalists and political supporters. The conversation quickly shifted from foreign policy to questions of media conduct, partisan narratives, and the role of the press center in Islamabad.
Date: April 18, 2026 – Source: Dawn
In a move towards unity within the journalistic community, two factions of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) reached an agreement in principle on merger and constituted a six-member committee to finalize the process and its modalities.
Spotlight on women YouTubers shaping Pakistan’s growing digital ecosystem
Date: April 19, 2026 – Source: The News
Pakistan’s YouTube ecosystem is booming, with over 1,000 channels crossing one million subscribers and most watch time coming from abroad. As part of Women’s Month, YouTube is spotlighting four domestic women creators reshaping conversations and expanding influence across the digital space.
From regulation to resignations: Pakistan’s media fault lines
Date: April 19, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
Pakistan’s media sector experienced a defining week marked by international recognition, regulatory scrutiny, economic instability, and leadership transitions. The developments highlight a broader pattern of structural stress alongside a gradual digital and institutional realignment across the industry.
Date: April 20, 2026 – Source: The News
Traditional programing is stuck in repetitive political debates. To stay relevant, emerging English-language channels must break from these formats and, with foresight, move beyond news delivery to reshape Pakistan’s global image and unlock its tourism-driven economic potential.
Why social media is a battleground for Pakistani journalists
Date: April 22, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
Growing visibility of Pakistani journalists on social media has increased public disagreements among media professionals, with disputes often unfolding in real time and in full public view rather than behind newsroom doors.
Dedicated film city on the cards in Punjab
Date: April 27, 2026 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Express Tribune
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced the establishment of a 50-acre Punjab Film City in Lahore, describing the project as a step towards revitalizing the country’s media and entertainment history.
Steps being taken to revitalize Punjab’s film industry, says culture minister
Date: April 27, 2026 – Source: Dawn
Punjab Information and Culture Minister Azma Bokhari said that measures were being implemented to restore the long-declining film industry in Punjab, with a fund of Rs2 billion being allocated for the purpose.
Lahore High Court refers pleas against defamation law to chief justice
Date: April 28, 2026 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Pakistan Today
Justice Anwaar Hussain of the Lahore High Court (LHC) referred petitions challenging the Punjab Defamation Act 2024 to the chief justice after the Punjab government’s lawyer objected to their maintainability before a single bench.
Date: April 28, 2026 – Source: Dawn
The media, including social media, is a powerful tool for accountability, pressing police leadership to uphold transparency, fairness, and human rights. Yet, it often portrays the police as violators rather than protectors – a perception that demands appraisal.
Winning the room, losing the story
Date: April 29, 2026 – Source: The News
Disinformation travels at algorithmic velocity. Corrections travel at press conference velocity. That gap – between the speed of a false claim and the speed of a verified response – is not a communications problem. It is a strategic vulnerability, with Pakistan losing inside that gap for decades.
PA passes Punjab Film City Authority Bill amid fiery debate
Date: April 30, 2026 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: The News, Source 3: Express Tribune
The Punjab Film City Authority Bill 2026, aimed at reviving the province’s film and creative industry, triggered a highly charged debate in the Punjab Assembly, marked by sharp exchanges, political point-scoring and procedural objections, before being passed by majority vote.
Punjab’s nascent film authority lands in controversy
Date: April 30, 2026 – Source 1: Express Tribune, Source 2: Pakistan Today
The Punjab government formally notified the board of governors of the Punjab Film City Authority, set up to promote the province’s film industry. The move, however, triggered fresh controversy, raising questions over policymaking and the distribution of powers within official circles.
Punjab Film City set to reshape creative industry
Date: April 30, 2026 – Source: Express Tribune
Punjab’s push to rebuild its film and media landscape has taken a decisive turn, with the proposed Punjab Film City emerging as a flagship project designed to reshape production, infrastructure, and creative opportunity within a single, integrated ecosystem.
Pakistan’s indie cinema finds global spotlight
Date: April 30, 2026 – Source: Express Tribune
The growing footprint of Pakistani cinema on the global festival circuit received a fresh boost at the 24th edition of the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles, where local filmmakers earned critical recognition alongside a diverse South Asian lineup that reflected the region’s evolving storytelling voice.
SECTION 3: The state of media economy
- Economic landscape of media industry
- Impact of Covid-19 on media resilience and sustainability
- Government and private advertising for media industry
- Advertising sector and its interface with media industry
- Business viability and sustainability of media
- Wages, salaries and arrears of journalists and media practitioners
APNS concerned at precarious financial state of press media
Date: April 1, 2026 – Source: Business Recorder (BR)
The All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) voiced concern over the state of print media, citing the prevailing geopolitical and economic challenges that have triggered a severe financial crisis for newspapers, many of which are reportedly on the brink of collapse.
Journalists oppose reduction in railway fare discount
Date: April 2, 2026 – Source: Dawn
The Pakistan Digital Media Journalists Association (PDMJA) opposed the government’s move to cut railway fare concessions for journalists. The discount has been reduced from 80 to 20 percent, with travel capped at 10 trips a year, sparking unrest among journalists nationwide.
Journalists boycott parliamentary proceedings over layoffs, unpaid salaries
Date: April 3, 2026 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Pakistan Today
Journalists walked out of the press gallery of the National Assembly and did not cover its proceedings in protest against layoffs in several media houses and the suspension salaries in many others.
FBR proposes framework to tax earnings from social media content
Date: April 3, 2026 – Source 1: The News, Source 2: Pakistan Today, Source 3: Arab News
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) issued a draft amendment introducing a new tax framework for individuals earning income from content on social media platforms, with the rules stating that content publishers with over 50,000 subscribers will be liable to pay tax on their income.
Pakistan’s journalist health scheme sees low uptake
Date: April 7, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
Only 187 of 4,537 journalists and media workers enrolled in the Prime Minister’s Health Insurance Program have accessed benefits, officials told the National Assembly. Operational since July 2024, the scheme is scheduled to be expanded to cover 10,000 journalists.
Taxing non-resident digital creators
Date: April 8, 2026 – Source: Business Recorder (BR)
The Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) rules brought income earned by social media creators from Pakistani audiences, including non-residents, into the tax net. As content creation became a viable livelihood, taxing resident creators above a set threshold was both logical and necessary.
APNS expresses gratitude as KP government begins clearing long-pending advertisement dues
Date: April 13, 2026 – Source: Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
The All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) welcomed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s decision to release Rs40 million in funds to clear outstanding advertisement dues owed to newspapers.
RIUJ report exposes Pakistan’s media layoff crisis
Date: April 15, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
A situational analysis issued by the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) highlighted a deepening crisis in Pakistan’s media industry, pointing to widespread forced terminations, salary delays, and the erosion of basic employment protections amid an ongoing economic downturn.
Defense minister flags poor infrastructure in TV channels
Date: April 16, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif drew attention to the dilapidated working conditions of Pakistan’s major television channels, describing outdated studio infrastructure, financial difficulties, and concerns over the use of mandated public service time.
Balochistan government approves first media advertisement policy
Date: April 17, 2026 – Source: Dawn
The Balochistan cabinet approved a series of policy measures, including the province’s first-ever Advertisement Policy 2026, aimed at eliminating dummy publications, fostering credible and market-driven media organizations, and ensuring transparency and merit.
SECTION 4: Threats and attacks against media and information practitioners, including online
- Murders and killings
- Kidnappings and abductions
- Arrests and detentions
- Threats – verbal and written
- Harassment and intimidation – offline and online
- Surveillance, hacking and data breaches
- Legal cases for journalism-related work or free speech
- Impunity of crimes against journalists
- Censorship
Supreme Court rejects plea for stay against trial in case against journalist
Date: April 2, 2026 – Source: The News
The Supreme Court (SC) rejected a request to immediately halt trial court proceedings in a case filed against journalist Matiullah Jan. The charges include drug recovery, interference in official duties, snatching government weapons, and provisions under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).
Supreme Court bars ATC from framing charges against journalist
Date: April 3, 2026 – Source: Dawn
The Supreme Court (SC) restrained an anti-terrorism court (ATC) from framing charges against journalist Matiullah Jan and directed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to expeditiously decide the challenge to the terrorism charges invoked against him.
Cyber agency blocks 2,700 URLs for publishing ‘blasphemous, immoral’ content
Date: April 3, 2026 – Source: The News
The National Assembly was informed that the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) had blocked over 2,700 URLs carrying ‘blasphemous or immoral content’, including 600 with blasphemous material, 426 violating personal modesty, and 1,695 targeting human dignity.
PTI says media facing growing pressure
Date: April 6, 2026 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: The News, Source 3: Pakistan Today
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Sheikh Waqas Akram said dissent was being stifled under a hybrid political regime, warning that democratic norms were eroding, institutions reduced to formality, and free media left as the gravest casualty.
187 cases filed under amended PECA law, National Assembly informed
Date: April 7, 2026 – Source 1: The News, Source 2: Digital Rights Foundation (DRF)
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi presented in the National Assembly (NA) details of cases registered under the amended Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), stating that 187 cases had been registered under the Act for spreading “harmful falsehoods”.
Date: April 8, 2026 – Source: The News
The National Assembly’s disclosure of 187 cases registered under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2025 is touted as proof of the state’s fight against fake news. Yet the figure underscores a deeper concern: expanding control over an already constrained digital media space.
PFUJ convention rejects PECA amendments
Date: April 9, 2026 – Source: The News
A convention organized by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) rejected the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2025 amendments, characterizing them as “black laws” engineered to facilitate the arm-twisting of journalists and the suppression of Pakistan’s media landscape.
13 years on, journalist murder case demands justice
Date: April 13, 2026 – Source: Express Tribune
The family of slain journalist Zakir Hussain and representatives of a media organization demanded a fresh investigation into his murder and the immediate arrest of suspects who have remained at large for over a decade.
TikTok removes over 22 million videos in Pakistan
Date: April 15, 2026 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: The News, Source 3: Pakistan Today
TikTok removed over 22.99 million videos in Pakistan between October and December 2025 for violating its community guidelines, with 99.9 percent taken down proactively and 98.4 percent within 24 hours.
Photojournalist goes ‘missing’ from Karachi
Date: April 18, 2026 – Source: Dawn
Photojournalist Faysal Mujeeb reportedly went missing near his Karachi residence, but police authorities claimed they were unaware of the incident, noting that his family had not yet filed a report or complaint regarding the incident.
Date: April 18, 2026 – Source: Dawn
Fans across the subcontinent mourned singer Asha Bhosle, and Pakistani channels paid tribute to her legacy. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) issued show-cause notices, invoking a court ruling that bars broadcast of Indian content. Yet such blanket ban undermines Article 19, as Bhosle’s music posed no threat to Pakistan’s national security or values.
Chilling effect in media: The unseen pressure behind newsroom decisions
Date: April 18, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
Across global newsrooms, including Pakistan, journalists face a chilling effect where threats of lawsuits, regulatory action, arrests or online harassment prompt self-censorship; this indirect restraint alters editorial judgement and narrows public access to reporting.
Date: April 19, 2026 – Source: Dawn
For once, Pakistan’s headlines reflected maturity, hosting adversaries and encouraging dialogue. Yet, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) issued a show-cause notice to a private channel for airing tributes for Indian singer Asha Bhosle, treating journalism as violation. Such actions are not regulation but cultural vandalism, erasing art and memory under the guise of control.
Gharidah Farooqi case sparks arrests over online harassment
Date: April 24, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
Anchorperson Gharidah Farooqi said authorities had initiated arrests and legal proceedings against individuals accused of orchestrating a coordinated campaign of online harassment targeting her, marking one of the more visible enforcement actions against gender-based digital abuse.
Journalist sent to jail on judicial remand after PECA arrest
Date: April 26, 2026 – Source: Dawn
An Islamabad court rejected the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency’s (NCCIA) request for the physical remand of journalist Fakhar-ur-Rehman and instead sent him to jail on judicial remand. Rehman was arrested by the NCCIA for allegedly spreading misleading information against state institutions.
Journalist granted bail in PECA case
Date: April 28, 2026 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: The News, Source 3: Pakistan Today
An Islamabad judicial magistrate granted post-arrest bail to journalist Fakhar-ur-Rehman in a case filed under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). The court approved bail against surety bonds of Rs50,000 after hearing arguments from both sides.
Free speech concerns rise over PECA amendments
Date: April 28, 2026 – Source: The News
A policy analysis by the Peace and Justice Network (PJN) highlighted gaps in Pakistan’s cybercrime law, warning that vague criminalization of “false or fake information” under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) amendments risked curbing free expression and enabling arbitrary enforcement.
Independent press being stifled in Pakistan, says Dawn Media CEO
Date: April 30, 2026 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Pakistan Today
Speaking at an event in Karachi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Dawn Media Group Hameed Haroon said independent journalism in Pakistan was under severe pressure and described the current environment as deeply restrictive.
PECA-driven legal cases among 129 violations against journalists: Freedom Network report
Date: April 30, 2026 – Source 1: Freedom Network (FN), Source 2: Dawn, Source 3: The News
In its report, Regulatory Repression of Freedom of Expression, press freedom watchdog Freedom Network (FN) said that amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) had created a climate of fear, where journalists are compelled to self-censor to avoid legal repercussions.
Date: April 30, 2026 – Source: Business Recorder (BR)
The episode in the Tarnol area of Islamabad, where a citizen’s satirical social media remark about a civic issue triggered criminal proceedings under multiple sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPL), raised troubling questions about the state of freedom of expression in the country.
OBJECTIVES: This series of monthly report aims to:
- Monitor the state of policies, regulations and mechanisms governing the media sector in Pakistan; the state of freedom of expression and right to information environment in the country and how these interfaces with media freedoms allowed or restricted via media regulations governed by the print, electronic and internet regulators.
- Track the state of media professionalisms in the country including ethical and public interest journalism practices and challenges, and the challenges of misinformation, disinformation and fake news phenomena.
- Follow the changing economic dynamics of the media industry and how they impact the business viability and sustainability of media and exploitation of media staff in lieu of their wages and arrears.
- Scrutinize threats and attacks against media and information practitioners, the state of impunity of crimes against journalists and efforts to provide justice for those aggrieved and distressed.
INFORMATION SOURCES: This report monitors, among others, the following sources of information:
- Government: Federal and provincial cabinets
- Ministries: Related ministries, including Information and Broadcasting, Information Technology (IT) and Telecom, Human Rights, Science and Technology, Commerce and Industry, etc.
- Legislatures: Senate, National Assembly, provincial assemblies, relevant standing committees
- Regulators: Pakistan telecommunications Authority (PTA), Pakistan Electronic Media regulatory Authority (PEMRA), Press Council of Pakistan (PPC), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), etc.
- Global organizations: UN/Unesco, International Media Support (IMS), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Amnesty International (AI), Human Rights Watch (HRW), etc.
- National organizations: Digital Rights Foundation (DRF), BoloBhi, Media Matters for Democracy (MMFD), Institute for Research, Advocacy and Development (IRADA), Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), etc.
- Media: Dawn, The News, Express Tribune, The Nation, Pakistan Today, The Friday Times, etc.
- Social Media:Facebook, Twitter, etc.
- Local networks: Journalists Safety Hubs Network, Alliance on Diversity & Pluralism in Media, etc.
- Any other open public information sources.
