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. 5 – May 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
Punjab CM’s office declines RTI requests on vehicles, foreign tours
Date: May 14, 2026 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Pakistan Today
The Punjab Chief Minister’s Office turned down requests filed under the right to information (RTI) law seeking details about the vehicles used by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, her foreign travel and an aircraft acquired by the provincial government.
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
Date: May 1, 2026 – Source: Dawn
The ‘Outrage Machine’ thrives on cycles of anger. Television studios stage nightly fury, but the content is built for social media – short, explosive clips designed to spread fast. Platforms boost the loudest voices because outrage fuels engagement. Demagogues exploit that energy, inventing enemies to rally against.
Date: May 3, 2026 – Source: The News
We live in an age bombarded with information. Social media drives media outlets to churn out endless content to retain attention, with feeds updating every second. The race to deliver news 24/7 is relentless, and competition from citizen journalists is immense – falling behind risks seen as irrelevant.
Date: May 3, 2026 – Source: The News
With mainstream media struggling to adapt to an ever-evolving tech-driven media landscape, local news or what remains of it, appears more pronounced and practiced in the digital landscape.
Kazim Khan re-elected as CPNE president
Date: May 3, 2026 – Source: Express Tribune
The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) held its annual meeting in Karachi, during which journalist Kazim Khan was unanimously re-elected as president and Ayaz Khan as senior vice president.
Prime Minister commends role of journalists in fostering an informed society
Date: May 3, 2026 – Source: Business Recorder (BR)
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tributes to journalists, praising their role in nurturing an informed society and urging them to uphold professional ethics amid growing concerns over the spread of misinformation.
Minister claims fake news biggest threat to freedom of expression in Pakistan
Date: May 4, 2026 – Source: The News
Highlighting contemporary challenges, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari cautioned that fake news poses the greatest threat to press freedom, stoking unrest and causing lasting damage to credible journalism.
NCCIA cracks down on online propaganda
Date: May 6, 2026 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Express Tribune
The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) launched a crackdown on alleged anti-state propaganda online amid the Iran-Israel conflict and Pakistan’s push for de-escalation, charging at least 17 suspects with allegedly spreading misleading and provocative content across digital platforms.
What doxing means and why it matters in digital journalism
Date: May 10, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
Doxing is the public sharing of someone’s private information without consent, threatening journalists, activists and the public. Fueled by artificial intelligence (AI) and viral campaigns, it raises urgent questions about platform accountability and press freedom in Pakistan.
Date: May 11, 2026 – Source: Express Tribune
The Punjab government’s decision to establish a 50-acre Film City in Lahore is a welcome effort to support the local film industry. The initiative is supposed to serve as an “end-to-end” media production hub and promises to bring film, television, animation and digital media under one roof.
How Pakistan became internet’s latest meme obsession
Date: May 11, 2026 – Source: Express Tribune
Pakistan is trending globally as the phrase “At the request of Pakistan,” born from the US-Iran crisis, has morphed into a viral meme – shifting from diplomatic jargon to a worldwide internet phenomenon.
Experts question social media figures shared with Senate
Date: May 15, 2026 – Source: The News
Concerns have arisen over official figures presented to a Senate committee on social media in Pakistan , including claims that 20 percent of accounts were fake and platforms complied with 83 percent of content removal requests. Digital experts called the data “puzzling” and lacking transparency.
Punjab cinema infrastructure contracts by 88pc in five decades
Date: May 21, 2026 – Source: The News
According to Punjab Development Statistics, the province’s cinema infrastructure contracted by 88 percent over the past five decades, shrinking from 369 cinemas at its peak in 1978 to just 45 by 2020-21.
Journalists to report on gender gaps
Date: May 21, 2026 – Source: Express Tribune
Journalists and education reporters from across Sindh joined a two-day workshop on gender-responsive education budgeting, focusing on effective reporting on girls’ education and gender equity.
Digital chaos, state coercion reshaping print media
Date: May 22, 2026 – Source: The News
Over the past century, Pakistan’s print media has mirrored the broader evolution of information production and consumption. Its challenge today is sustaining economic viability while upholding journalistic integrity in a digital age driven by speed, scale, and engagement.
NCCIA arrests 11 over ‘anti-state’ social media campaign
Date: May 30, 2026 – Source: Dawn
The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) arrested 11 “social media activists” across Punjab for allegedly spreading anti-state propaganda and inciting unrest. A spokesperson said the suspects had been under surveillance for running online campaigns against state institutions.
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
APNEC demands restoration of government advertisements to Dawn Group
Date: May 1, 2026 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Pakistan Today
The All Pakistan Newspaper Employees Confederation (APNEC) demanded the immediate restoration of government advertisements to the Dawn Media Group, warning that the suspension had plunged thousands of media workers into a ‘severe financial crisis’.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa unveils loan scheme for journalists
Date: May 4, 2026 – Source: Express Tribune
Special Assistant to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Shafi Jan announced that a special grant of Rs400 million had been approved to clear advertisement dues, alongside an interest-free loan scheme for journalists in the province.
Suno News cuts jobs, raising alarm across media industry
Date: May 9, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
Private broadcaster Suno News dismissed 160 employees without a month’s pay and shut its Quetta bureau, cutting nine jobs. Journalists’ unions condemned the move, warning of escalating salary delays, retrenchments, and instability across Pakistan’s television news sector.
Minister announces ‘advertisement ban’ on TV channel that laid off 170 employees
Date: May 12, 2026 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Pakistan Today
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the government had suspended advertisements to a private television channel that laid off 170 employees, while restoring them for the Dawn Media Group and summoning another channel’s management over three months of unpaid salaries.
Journalists, media workers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa protest layoffs, salary delays
Date: May 16, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
Journalists and media workers across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa staged protests outside the Peshawar Press Club (PPC) and in other districts, demanding unpaid salaries, an end to forced layoffs, stronger labor protections, and the linking of state advertising to the clearance of media dues.
Tribunal orders TV channel to clear over Rs2.1 million dues to cameraman
Date: May 16, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
A Karachi labor tribunal ruled in favor of camera operator Zulfiqar Ali Babar, directing Airwaves Media Group (NewsOne) to clear outstanding dues of Rs2,185,760 within one month.
Dawn raises price of newspaper amid rising costs
Date: May 17, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
Dawn newspaper raised the cover price of its daily and Sunday editions by Rs10 per copy, citing rising costs and inflation. The hike adds at least Rs300 to monthly reader expenses and underscores mounting pressures on Pakistan’s print media.
APNVF calls for government support amid economic strife
Date: May 19, 2026 – Source: Pakistan Press Federation (PPF)
The All Pakistan Newspaper Vendors Federation (APNVF) called upon the federal government to play a proactive role in addressing economic hardships faced by newspaper vendors and ensure adequate financial support measures.
Government advertisements restored for TV channel after assurances on staff dues
Date: May 19, 2026 – Source: Pakistan Press Federation (PPF)
The federal government restored advertisements to private broadcaster Suno News after its management assured payment of dues to its employees, while maintaining a ban on another television channel over the dismissal of 170 workers.
The economics of print viability in a digital-first world
Date: May 22, 2026 – Source: The News
Global print advertising revenues fell 40-50 percent over the past decade as digital platforms captured more than 60 percent of advertisement spending. In Pakistan, the shift was compounded by economic instability, with fiscal stress shrinking private sector advertising and further eroding print revenues.
The complete budget guide to starting a news portal in Pakistan
Date: May 24, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
In 2026, launching a digital news platform in Pakistan cost from a few thousand rupees for lean startups to tens of millions for investor-backed outlets. Rising costs and platform-driven strategies have reshaped entry barriers for new publishers.
PRA criticizes TV channels over delayed Eid salaries
Date: May 27, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
The Parliamentary Reporters Association (PRA) voiced concerns over delayed and incomplete salary payments by several television news channels ahead of Eid, warning that the situation reflected mounting financial and labor pressures in the country’s broadcast media industry.
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
Journalists compelled to self-censor to avoid legal trouble: Freedom Network report
Date: May 1, 2026 – Source: Dawn
The weaponization of Pakistan’s cybercrime laws was identified as a major threat to press freedom, forcing journalists to self-censor to avoid legal repercussions, according to Freedom Network’s (FN) latest annual report.
Balochistan CM pledges support to journalists
Date: May 3, 2026 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Pakistan Today
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said that a free, responsible and informed press was the cornerstone of any democratic society, acknowledging the vital role of journalists in ensuring transparency and keeping the public informed.
Expression under repression: journalists share experiences
Date: May 3, 2026 – Source: Dawn
At an event organized by the Center of Excellence in Journalism (CEJ), journalists agreed that regulatory repression of freedom of expression constituted a “new form of threat” to media professionals, who were being repeatedly targeted for independent reporting.
Date: May 3, 2026 – Source: Dawn
The public too often forgets, at its own peril, how vital a free and independent media is to safeguarding professional freedoms. Continued restrictions on its independence risk undermining individual liberties.
Date: May 3, 2026 – Source: Dawn
The state – while reveling in its role as mediator in a global war – must extend generosity to its own citizens and build confidence with the media, political opposition, and the public. Democracy and justice cannot exist where citizens and the press are silenced.
PPP’s Human Rights Cell seeks review of PECA to align it with constitutional freedoms
Date: May 3, 2026 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: The News, Source 3: Pakistan Today
The Human Rights Cell of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) urged a review of the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and its amendments to align with fundamental rights and international standards, and to end the misuse of judicial processes as tools of intimidation.
Date: May 3, 2026 – Source: The News
On World Press Freedom Day, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) warned that press freedom had fallen to its lowest level in 25 years, with more than half of countries hostile to independent journalism and governments actively undermining the media.
Date: May 3, 2026 – Source: The News
Pakistani media and freedom of expression are under fire, with press vibrancy fading under restrictive laws, downsizing, weak unions, and poor training. Burdened by disinformation and internal flaws, the media’s capacity to hold governance accountable has been curtailed.
Date: May 3, 2026 – Source: The News
It is no longer just the case of a journalist being handcuffed and sent to jail or a case being registered against a reporter for their work; it now appears that the whole media has been handcuffed or put on mute. It is often said that a nation and its press rise and fall together.
Date: May 3, 2026 – Source: The News
Technology has long reshaped journalism – from the printing press to radio and television. Today, digital platforms pose an existential challenge, cast both as engines of innovation and as threats to press freedom.
President reaffirms country’s commitment to press freedom
Date: May 3, 2026 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Express Tribune, Source 3: Business Recorder (BR)
President Asif Ali Zardari reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to press freedom, calling it a cornerstone of democracy. He acknowledged global challenges, including misinformation and disinformation, which erode public trust and distort democratic processes.
Media bodies, civil society raise alarm over press curbs
Date: May 4, 2026 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: The News
On World Press Freedom Day, media bodies and civil society groups warned of escalating curbs on press freedom and rising risks to journalists in Pakistan, urging stronger protections and institutional reforms.
Journalists in Quetta vow to strive for press freedom
Date: May 4, 2026 – Source: Dawn
Marking World Press Freedom Day in Quetta, the journalist community reaffirmed its commitment to media independence, vowing to continue the struggle for free expression and reject “black laws” curbing press rights.
PPP leader expresses concern about domestic media landscape
Date: May 4, 2026 – Source: The News
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Vice President Sherry Rehman expressed concern over the current media landscape in Pakistan, stating that it was unfortunately marked by censorship, intimidation, and incidents of violence against journalists.
Free expression curtailed, rule of law faltering: HRCP report
Date: May 5, 2026 – Source 1: Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), Source 2: The News
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan’s Human Rights in 2025 report warned that freedom of expression – especially the right to question authority – was sharply curtailed, undermining the rule of law and fundamental rights.
Majority of cases against journalists dismissed, NCCIA informs Senate body
Date: May 7, 2026 – Source 1: The News, Source 2: Business Recorder (BR)
The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) told a Senate sub-committee that 13 cases had been filed against journalists and media workers, of which 11 were dropped after investigation.
Quetta journalist remanded to FIA after court appearance
Date: May 9, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
Journalist Maqbool Ahmad Jaffar, earlier reported missing from Quetta, was produced before a judicial magistrate and handed over to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on a two-day remand. The development followed alarm over reports that two journalists had allegedly been taken from their homes and moved to undisclosed locations.
SPSC official lodges terrorism case against journalist, two others
Date: May 11, 2026 – Source: Dawn
US-based journalist Imtiaz Chandio and social media activists Fayyaz Hussain Shar and Rafiullah Qureshi were booked on terrorism charges for allegedly spreading false propaganda and inciting candidates following the release of Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) examination results.
Suspect in journalist murder case escapes from jail
Date: May 12, 2026 – Source: Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
Police sources confirmed that Tahir Naveed, an inmate allegedly involved in multiple criminal activities, including the murder of journalist Wali Khan Babar in 2011, escaped from a district jail in Karachi. He managed to flee undetected despite upgraded jail security measures, including CCTV coverage.
Journalist claims detention by NCCIA over social media post
Date: May 14, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
Journalist Hammad Hassan said he was briefly detained by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) over a social media post alleging surveillance near Islamabad’s Red Zone and Serena Hotel, raising concerns about the handling of media-related investigations.
Press freedom in Pakistan: A historical struggle between control and resistance
Date: May 22, 2026 – Source: The News
In Pakistan, press freedom has been a constant struggle between control and resistance, with Article 19’s guarantee of free expression repeatedly curbed by political and military regimes since the country’s independence in 1947.
Journalists’ convention wants review of media laws contrary to Article 19
Date: May 23, 2026 – Source: Dawn
Journalists across Pakistan rejected amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, denouncing them as draconian measures to silence the press and suppress media freedom, and calling for a comprehensive review.
Geo News reporter row sparks protest by journalists
Date: May 24, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
Journalists staged a protest walkout from Parliament’s press gallery after claims that a television reporter was barred from covering proceedings following a question to Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
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.
