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 – March 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 Information Commission orders university to disclose recruitment records
Date: March 16, 2026 – Source: The News
The Punjab Information Commission (PIC) directed Multan-based Emerson University to disclose records related to the recruitment of its controller of examinations and an assistant professor after rejecting the university’s claim that the information was exempt from disclosure under the transparency law.
PIC issues rare rebuke, terms Right to Information misuse ‘abuse of law’
Date: March 25, 2026 – Source: The News
In a rare ruling, the Punjab Information Commission (PIC) termed the filing of multiple, identical right to information (RTI) requests an “abuse of law”, rejecting 35 complaints lodged by an applicant against various offices of the provincial irrigation department.
PIC rejects Right to Information plea on Nikahnama reforms
Date: March 27, 2026 – Source: The News
The Punjab Information Commission (PIC) sparked controversy for rejecting a Right to Information (RTI) complaint seeking details on the Lahore High Court’s Nikahnama reform ruling. Civil society criticized the move as undermining transparency, blocking access to information, and misapplying the law.
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
PTA warns against sharing unverified content amid regional tensions
Date: March 1, 2026 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Express Tribune, Source 3: Arab News
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) urged citizens to avoid sharing “unverified or inflammatory” content online, warning that legal action could be taken against those spreading misinformation amid what it described as a “sensitive national situation”.
Date: March 1, 2026 – Source: Dawn
Pakistan’s media graduates enter newsrooms trained for a world already transformed. The revised HEC curriculum offers a base, but real reforms require digital-first labs, faculty development, student-run platforms, and industry partnerships. Above all, media education must be treated as a public good.
Democrat Panel makes gains in National Press Club polls
Date: March 15, 2026 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Pakistan Today, Source 3: The Gulf Observer
The Democrats Panel achieved significant success in the National Press Club (NPC) elections for the 2026-27 term, breaking the long-standing dominance of the Journalist Panel by securing four out of ten executive body seats, including the key positions of president and general secretary.
What pack journalism means in modern news coverage
Date: March 15, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
In today’s fast-paced news cycle, media outlets compete fiercely yet often produce near-identical coverage. Major events – whether political scandals, court rulings, or viral controversies – frequently yield matching headlines and similar framing. This phenomenon is known as pack journalism.
Punjab to take legal action over ‘propaganda’ on jet use
Date: March 16, 2026 – Source: Dawn
The Punjab government said it will initiate legal action against individuals and platforms for spreading what it termed “false propaganda” regarding the use of a government aircraft, warning that those involved will face strict consequences.
Three Pakistani films set to hit cinema screens on Eid
Date: March 20, 2026 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Express Tribune, Source 3: Pakistan Today
Three Pakistani films – Bullah, Delhi Gate, and Aag Lagay Basti Mein – are set to release simultaneously over the Eid holidays, competing for a limited cinema-going audience in the country’s constrained box office market.
Why young Pakistanis are abandoning prime-time TV talk shows
Date: March 21, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
Gallup Pakistan’s Media Habits Report 2025 found that younger Pakistanis were leaving evening television talk shows for smartphones and digital platforms; 54 percent now own smartphones versus 46 percent televisions.
Astroturfing in media: How fake grassroots campaigns shape public opinion
Date: March 22, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
Astroturfing is reshaping digital information as coordinated campaigns mimic grassroot sentiment to influence public debate. Newsrooms and regulators in Pakistan and South Asia face rising challenges in spotting and countering such organized messaging.
‘Pakistan’s Got Talent’ launched on Geo TV
Date: March 25, 2026 – Source: The News
Geo Television Network and Pixel Entertainment announced the launch of Pakistan’s Got Talent, a franchise celebrated in over 60 countries. Auditions for the show were underway, giving Pakistan’s best performers a shot at worldwide recognition.
Media outlets reshape Pakistan’s image
Date: March 26, 2026 – Source: The New York Times
Pakistan launched a major campaign to reshape its global image, evident in its handling of rising tensions with Afghanistan. The media push aims to position the country as a Western partner and a regional diplomatic force. Over the past year, security officials have urged journalists to establish state-friendly English-language outlets, according to those approached.
Punjab Defamation Act: High court summons assembly debate record
Date: March 31, 2026 – Source: Dawn
While hearing multiple petitions by journalists and civil society members challenging the law, the Lahore High Court (LHC) directed a provincial government’s law officer to submit record of the debate held on the floor of the assembly before the enactment of the Punjab Defamation Act 2024.
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
Pakistan Super League: PCB secures media rights deal
Date: March 1, 2026 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Express Tribune, Source 3: Tapmad
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the signing of its most expensive television broadcast and live-telecast deal, with Walee Technologies purchasing the rights for Rs26 billion for the 2026-2029 broadcast cycle.
Pakistan’s regional press battles for survival
Date: March 7, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
Regional and local newspapers in Pakistan are sliding into economic strain, as rising production costs, shrinking advertisement revenues, and declining circulation force trimmed editions, newsroom layoffs, and experiments with hybrid print-digital models.
What Pakistan’s young journalists are really paid
Date: March 7, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
Entry-level journalists in Pakistan earn modest pay, averaging Rs35,000-60,000, with a national mean near Rs51,000. Salaries are often delayed, and job security remains fragile under strained media budgets.
ARY Digital Network acquires majority stake in Nukta
Date: March 8, 2026 – Source 1: ARY News, Source 2: Pakistan Today
ARY Digital Network acquired a majority stake in digital media company Nukta. The deal expands ARY Network’s digital footprint while Nukta, operating from Dubai, gains access to ARY’s global infrastructure and reach.
PAC panel flags Rs101 million secret spending by information ministry
Date: March 11, 2026 – Source: Express Tribune
A subcommittee of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) flagged Rs101.4 million in undisclosed spending by the Information Ministry, including Rs70 million for publicity, Rs26.6 million for the Institute of Regional Studies, and Rs4.8 million in secret service costs.
Pakistan TV staffers face Eid without pay
Date: March 11, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
Salary delays at seven television channels resurfaced ahead of Eid, prompting the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) to seek intervention from Information Minister Attaullah Tarar. RIUJ President Asif Bashir warned that mounting arrears had left media workers in acute financial distress.
APNS urges Prime Minister to clear newspapers’ dues before Eid
Date: March 12, 2026 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Pakistan Today, Source 3: Business Recorder (BR)
The All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) appealed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to approve the payment of newspapers’ dues, which have already been cleared by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet, before Eid.
Abb Tak layoffs deepen Pakistan’s media jobs crisis
Date: March 16, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
Private media outlet Abb Tak dismissed eight journalists from its Islamabad bureau days before Eid, deepening concerns over job security as salary delays of up to three months become common across Pakistan’s broadcast sector. It reflects wider cuts amid shrinking advertisement revenues.
Why news subscriptions struggle in Pakistan
Date: March 17, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
Global publishers are moving to reader-funded models, but Pakistan faces obstacles: long-standing free-access habits, dominant social media platforms, and limited disposable income. These factors make persuading readers to pay for news difficult.
RIUJ protests push media houses to clear delayed salaries
Date: March 19, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
Ahead of Eid, protests by the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) pressured several media outlets – including Suno News, Public News, and 365 News – to clear overdue salaries. However, others such as Neo, AIK, Aaj, Lahore Rung, and BOL still owe pay, leaving many journalists unpaid.
English-language TV channel relaunched
Date: March 27, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
Pakistan is seeing a revival of English-language television channels as both state and private media push to amplify the country’s global voice. Express 24/7 has returned after its 2011 closure, joining AsiaNews One and the revamped Pakistan TV. Together, they signal renewed investment in broadcasting.
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
Satellite feed of Geo Newshacked, unauthorized content aired
Date: March 2, 2026 – Source 1: The News, Source 2: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
Geo News said its satellite feed was hacked, briefly airing unauthorized content and interrupting broadcasts; its website and social streams stayed online, and the channel urged authorities to investigate the breach and identify those responsible.
CERT launches probe into cyberattacks on television channels, websites
Date: March 3, 2026 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Pakistan Today
Multiple Pakistani television channels, websites and mobile applications came under coordinated cyberattacks, prompting the National Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) to launch a formal investigation.
Islamabad High Court restores journalist’s bail in cybercrime case
Date: March 3, 2026 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Pakistan Today
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) restored the bail of journalist Sohrab Barkat in the last remaining case against him by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), setting aside a trial court’s order that had cancelled his post arrest bail.
Kenya’s Supreme Court fixes hearing in Arshad Sharif murder case
Date: March 7, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
Kenya’s Supreme Court is set to hear the case over Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif’s 2022 killing on March 11, 2026, his widow Javeria Siddiqui said. The hearing follows a High Court ruling that the police shooting was unlawful and continues ongoing legal efforts.
Sohrab Barkat walks free: what his ordeal reveals about press freedom
Date: March 7, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
After more than 90 days in detention amid multiple cases and successive bail cancellations under PECA law, journalist Sohrab Barkat was granted bail in all pending cases. His ordeal raised questions about the law’s use against independent media in Pakistan.
Female journalist files harassment case against colleague
Date: March 7, 2026 – Source 1: Journalism Pakistan (JP), Source 2: Rural Media Network Pakistan
Journalist Aqsa Khalid, an employee of 92 News in Islamabad, lodged a police complaint alleging workplace harassment by a colleague, identified as Adeel, after their engagement ended. She stated that her family broke off the engagement after concluding he was “not of good character”.
Arrest of women journalists, activists condemned in Islamabad
Date: March 9, 2026 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: IFJ, Source 3: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, joined by leading media bodies, denounced the arrest of women journalists Ismat Jabeen, Sehrish Qureshi, and Farhat Fatima, along with other activists, during the annual Aurat March event in Islamabad.
Law minister urges media caution on foreign policy amid Middle East crisis
Date: March 11, 2026 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Arab News
Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar urged journalists to exercise caution when discussing the country’s foreign policy, saying constitutional limits must be respected as regional tensions rise following the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
Senate body forms subcommittee to examine PECA ‘misuse’
Date: March 11, 2026 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Pakistan Today
The Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting formed a subcommittee to examine the widespread registration of cases under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), particularly those affecting journalists, following concerns raised by committee members.
CPJ warns of self-censorship risk after law minister’s remarks on foreign policy coverage
Date: March 13, 2026 – Source 1: Dawn, Source 2: Express Tribune, Source 3: Pakistan Today
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) raised concerns and flagged self-censorship risks over Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar’s warning of possible action against journalists and commentators who crossed “red lines” while discussing Pakistan’s foreign policy amid escalating Middle East tensions.
Tweet prompts release of Afghan journalist and family from Adiala jail
Date: March 14, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
An Afghan journalist, Abdul Ahad, his wife Sapna, and their minor children were released from Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail after Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi intervened following a journalist’s tweet, highlighting their detention despite a court order.
Parliamentary panel terms Chief Minister Afridi’s nomination in Radio Pakistan case a “conspiracy”
Date: March 17, 2026 – Source: Dawn
A special committee of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly raised objections to the nomination of Chief Minister Sohail Afridi in the May 2023 mob attack on Radio Pakistan building in Peshawar, asserting that without geo-fencing, the move amounts to a “conspiracy” against the province’s chief executive.
Inquiry launched after woman journalist assault claim
Date: March 11, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
An inquiry was initiated after journalist and union leader Farhat Fatima alleged that she was assaulted and unlawfully detained by police personnel at a women’s police station in the federal capital, sparking protests by media practitioners and rights activists.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa journalists condemn attacks, demand accountability
Date: March 16, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
Journalists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa united to condemn attacks and alleged harassment, calling for swift accountability and stronger protections for press workers. Recent incidents in the province have sparked boycotts of police coverage and protests across multiple districts.
Press groups urge Pakistan to halt deportation of Afghan journalists
Date: March 18, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
In a letter, international press freedom organizations urged Pakistan’s government to stop the arrest, detention, and deportation of Afghan journalists living in exile, warning that such actions place them at serious risk if returned to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
Halted news talk show segment highlights censorship pressures on journalism
Date: March 19, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
The reported removal of a segment of anchorperson Mohammad Malick’s program on ARY News, where he questioned the Punjab government over a luxury aircraft purchase, sparked concerns about the state of editorial freedom in Pakistan’s newsrooms.
KPC demands withdrawal of case against investigative journalist
Date: March 20, 2026 – Source: Pakistan Today
The Karachi Press Club (KPC) condemned the filing of a case against investigative journalist Nadir Khan, calling it an assault on press freedom. It demanded the case be withdrawn, warning that such legal intimidation seeks to silence the media.
Court grants bail to journalist in smuggling report case
Date: March 25, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
An Islamabad court approved bail for investigative journalist Nadir Khan, days after a case was registered against him following the publication of a report alleging liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) smuggling through a cargo ship at Karachi Port.
Pakistan’s media faces warning signs of shrinking space
Date: March 26, 2026 – Source: Journalism Pakistan (JP)
Media watchdogs warn Pakistan’s journalists face rising legal, digital and economic constraints, frequent PECA cases, a Social Media Authority with takedown powers, platform outages and falling advertisement revenues that weaken newsroom independence.
FCC stays trial in Radio Pakistan attack case
Date: March 27, 2026 – Source: Dawn
The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) stayed the special judge of an anti-terrorism court (ATC) from proceeding in a case relating to the May 2023 attack on Radio Pakistan Peshawar, in which Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi is also among the accused.
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.
