Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Photograph: APP/ File
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday renewed his authorities’s dedication to press freedom, saying efforts would proceed to guard, promote and strengthen a conducive setting for journalism.
In a press release issued by the Prime Minister’s Workplace on World Press Freedom Day, the prime minister paid tribute to journalists, columnists, reporters, editors, broadcasters and all these related to journalism in Pakistan and all over the world for his or her selfless providers.
Reaffirming his authorities’s dedication, the prime minister stated all attainable steps would proceed to be taken for the safety, promotion and creation of a conducive setting for press freedom.
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“Allow us to renew our collective resolve that the federal government will proceed to play its position in safeguarding press freedom in order that, in a conducive setting, the media can carry out its duties honestly. Collectively, we are going to proceed working in direction of constructing a powerful Pakistan — peaceable, assured, and revered globally,” he stated.
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He stated the skilled efficiency of media personnel’s duties was a assure of an knowledgeable and conscious society, including that the well timed publication and broadcast of genuine, unbiased and neutral information fashioned the true basis of journalism.
Calling journalists custodians of social values, the prime minister pressured that it was the responsibility of each journalist, in step with skilled ethics, to forestall the dissemination of propaganda, faux information and unverified or unauthenticated data.
This yr, World Press Freedom Day is being noticed beneath the theme “Shaping a Peaceable Future”, which the prime minister stated mirrored the wants of the current period. He stated journalists have been entitled to a dignified, safe and conducive working setting within the efficiency of their duties.
“Within the trendy period, an setting of peace and safety will not be achieved by diplomacy alone; moderately, genuine data, accountable journalism and public opinion play a decisive position in shaping it,” he stated, including that the media had the capability to play a constructive position in making worldwide relations and political, financial and social ties between nations extra constructive, significant and efficient.
He famous that correct illustration of viewpoints usually helped resolve advanced points, calling it a trademark of accountable journalism.
“Pakistan is a peaceable nation and prefers dialogue and negotiations, from variations of opinion to the long-term decision of tensions,” he stated, highlighting the nation’s strategy.
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Referring to current diplomatic efforts amid US-Iran tensions which have engulfed the area and severely disrupted the worldwide economic system as a result of closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the premier stated Pakistan was enjoying a constructive position in diplomacy to cut back tensions, promote dialogue and restore peace within the area, including that the nation had been appreciated by the worldwide media on this context.
Whereas appreciating the media’s position in Pakistan’s historic success over India in Could final yr and amid hostile actions by the Afghan authorities and the Taliban this yr, the prime minister stated the media had additionally performed an vital position throughout “Marka-e-Haq” and “Operation Bunyanum Marsoos”, presenting the nationwide response, defence of sovereignty and nationwide unity with readability and restraint.
“The media saved the general public knowledgeable and countered misinformation. These moments mirrored not solely the capabilities of the armed forces but additionally collective nationwide energy, during which the accountable media performed its due position. The position of the journalistic neighborhood is commendable,” he stated.
The prime minister additionally paid tribute to journalists who misplaced their lives within the line of responsibility, saying their braveness served as a reminder that press freedom was a priceless asset.
Talking in regards to the quickly evolving media panorama pushed by trendy innovation, he stated digital platforms have been enjoying an vital position in shaping public opinion at each nationwide and worldwide ranges, whereas additionally highlighting their position in projecting nationwide id and views globally.
Whereas urging media organisations to adapt to digital transformation with each pace and accountability, PM Shehbaz warned towards the unfold of pretend information and organised disinformation campaigns.
“The unfold of pretend information and organised disinformation campaigns poses an actual menace to nationwide cohesion and world popularity,” he warned, including that it was important to prioritise each well timed entry to data and credibility.
“I urge all journalists to uphold the very best requirements of verification, integrity, and professionalism in order that fact will not be compromised within the fast-paced digital age,” he stated.
He added that the media not solely mirrored social, political and financial variety but additionally promoted nationwide unity and stability, whereas enjoying a constructive position in highlighting problems with public significance and elevating consciousness on social and financial issues.
The assertion got here at a time when Pakistan improved its place within the Reporters With out Borders (RSF) World Press Freedom Index, rising to 153rd place in 2026 from 158th in 2024.
Nevertheless, RSF additionally expressed concern over what it described as “relentless waves of restrictions” amid a fraught political local weather, during which authorities search to regulate and, in some instances, suppress the dissemination of journalistic content material.
A day earlier, media watchdog Freedom Community, in its newest annual report, additionally flagged issues over Pakistan’s media panorama, which it stated witnessed a major contraction of house at no cost expression over the previous yr, pushed by escalating authorized, regulatory and financial pressures, amongst others.
The report, titled “Regulatory Repression of Freedom of Expression – Authorized Controls and PECA Undermine Media and Journalism in Pakistan”, recognized the amended Prevention of Digital Crimes Act (Peca) as essentially the most “consequential instrument” getting used to limit journalists and free speech practitioners.
Initially enacted in 2016 to fight cybercrimes, the report stated, amendments made in 2025 have more and more been utilized in 2025–26 to criminalise lawful expression, goal dissent, and intimidate journalists, attorneys and political commentators.
By way of journalist security, the report documented at the very least 129 verified incidents of violations between April 2025 and March 2026. Authorized threats and bodily violence accounted for almost two-thirds of those instances.
These included two murders, 5 threats to homicide, 58 authorized instances (principally beneath Peca), 16 assaults, 11 threats of hurt, and two instances of kidnapping and enforced disappearance.
Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa emerged as essentially the most harmful areas for journalists, whereas incidents in Sindh and Balochistan underscored persistent dangers. State authorities have been recognized because the main perpetrators, chargeable for over 60 per cent of violations, primarily by authorized and custodial actions. Non-state actors, together with militant teams and prison networks, have been additionally linked to threats, assaults and killings.
The detention of three feminine journalists in Islamabad whereas making an attempt to cowl Aurat March in March 2026 highlighted the gendered dimension of those dangers. Throughout the nation, journalists additionally confronted financial pressures, together with delayed salaries, job insecurity and reliance on authorities promoting, which additional undermined editorial independence.
Learn: Media in Pakistan nonetheless stifled by censorship and threats in 2025
Girls journalists, the report stated, remained significantly marginalised throughout the media sector, with harassment, on-line abuse and office discrimination contributing to a hostile setting. Instances involving deepfake abuse and detentions additional illustrated these challenges.
The report known as for pressing reforms, together with a assessment of restrictive provisions of Peca, stronger implementation of journalist security legal guidelines, and efficient enforcement of RTI frameworks to make sure transparency. It additionally urged authorized and institutional assist for journalists and the promotion of moral use of rising applied sciences.
