Pakistan downgraded to 158th spot on Press Freedom Index
- Drop driven by economic pressures on news organisations.
- PFUJ offical slams Peca tweaks, Punjab govt’s defamation law.
- President Zardari reaffirms resolve to promote free press.
KARACHI: Reflecting the issues with press freedom and freedom of expression, Pakistan has dropped to 158th spot on the 2025 World Press Freedom Index with the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) describing the situation as the worst global press freedom conditions in history, The News reported on Saturday.
In its latest index — released on Friday ahead of today’s World Press Freedom Day — the RSF has, for the first time ever, classified the international media freedom situation as “difficult”.
This is a downgrade from the previously “problematic” status and the second-lowest classification possible. This shift, according to the RSF, is driven largely by unprecedented economic pressures on news organisations worldwide, compounded by political interference, disinformation and increasing violence against journalists.
The RSF downgradation follows Freedom Network’s “Free speech and public interest journalism under siege” report which painted a grim picture of the state of press freedom in Pakistan and highlighted an “existential threat” to the media landscape amid increasing restrictions, dwindling safety, and job security.
The report further blamed the contentious Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca)Â amendments for exacerbating an already worrying situation regarding press freedom in the country.
Black laws
Meanwhile, reacting to the RSF report, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has called upon the federal and provincial governments, to respect press freedom and freedom of expression, “which are fast eroding in the country”.
In a joint statement issued on the eve of Press Freedom Day, which is being be observed all over the world today (Saturday), PFUJ Acting President Khalid Khokhar and Secretary General Arshad Ansari condemned the recent amendments made by the federal and Punjab governments “to stifle the freedom of expression”.
They said the amendments in the Peca law made by the federal government and the Defamation Law passed by the Punjab Assembly were aimed at controlling the media.
Terming them “black laws”, the PFUJ leaders said the journalists will continue to fight against them. They also strongly criticised the government for using high-handed tactics by kidnapping the journalists, implicating them in false cases, and blocking their bank accounts or those of their family members.
The PFUJ leadership also regretted that the Journalist Safety Act had still not been enforced as neither the commission had been constituted nor its rules framed by the government.
The PFUJ statement further highlighted that six journalists were killed in the past year, the Quetta Press Club was sealed, and unseen forces exerted control over the media.
Journalists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including erstwhile FATA, and Balochistan continue to work under immense pressure and challenging conditions, it added.
The Peca amendments, passed by the government in January 2025, have drawn widespread criticism from journalist bodies and various segments of the society and have been challenged in the Supreme Court, the Islamabad High Court and the Lahore High Court.
The controversial tweaks to an already contentious law feature new definitions, the establishment of regulatory and investigative bodies, and stricter penalties for disseminating “false” information.
The new amendments lowered the punishment for spreading “fake information” online to three years while the offender could also face a fine of up to Rs2 million.
The amendments also pave way for the establishment of Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority (SMPRA), the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) and the Social Media Protection Tribunal.
It also empowers the authorities to issue directions to a social media platform for removal or blocking of online content if it was against the ideology of Pakistan;
President reaffirms commitment to press freedom
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari reaffirmed his commitment to upholding and promoting a free and responsible press in the country.
In his message on the World Press Freedom Day, he said: “Today, we also honour the sacrifices made by those who have lost their lives in pursuit of truth [….] Their courage and dedication continue to inspire us”.
President Zardari said Article 19 of the Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of speech and a free press, subject to certain restrictions. “We have taken several steps for the protection and welfare of journalists, but more needs to be done by providing them a safe, secure, and enabling environment”.
The president further said the responsibility of the media had become onerous given the environment of fake news, disinformation, and sensationalism undermining public trust. “On this day, let us renew our resolve to protect and promote press freedom as an essential element of our democracy,” he remarked.
Moreover, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also paid rich tribute to journalists, editors, photographers, and media workers across Pakistan and around the world on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, reaffirming his party’s unwavering commitment to freedom of the press, protection of journalists, and the people’s fundamental right to truth and information.
“A strong, independent press is not the enemy of the state; it is the voice of the people,” he added.
Calling upon the federal and provincial governments, the PPP chairman urged immediate and concrete steps to ensure the safety and protection of journalists. He lauded the PPP-led Sindh government for taking a pioneering step by passing the Sindh Protection of Journalists and Other Media Practitioners Act, 2021, and establishing the Commission for the Protection of Journalists and Other Media Practitioners under this law.
