October 29, 2025
By Aitzaz Ibrahim
Journalists in northern and central Punjab are facing increasing legal, economic, and professional challenges, according to two new research reports released by media watchdog Freedom Network. The reports reveal that journalists across both regions are confronting growing censorship, legal harassment, and economic exploitation, which are collectively restricting their ability to report freely and independently.
According to the findings, media workers in northern and central Punjab are simultaneously dealing with politically motivated advertising cuts, unpaid or underpaid work arrangements, sudden withdrawal of sensitive stories, and removal of bylines from published reports.
The two separate reports document the current state of media freedom, access to information, and safety of journalists and other media professionals in the two regions. Published with the technical support of International Media Support (IMS), the studies are part of a continuing Freedom Network research series that assesses the state of media freedom across different regions of Pakistan. The initiative is linked to the United Nations’ 2012 Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, under which Pakistan was identified as one of five pilot countries to promote journalist safety and integrate it into the national agenda.
Freedom Network Executive Director Iqbal Khattak emphasized the importance of strengthening local and community-level media to ensure the public’s access to reliable and authentic information. “Until we strengthen grassroots media, the dream of providing credible information to the public will remain incomplete,” he said. Khattak added that the findings of these reports present a serious challenge for all stakeholders, including the Punjab government, journalist unions, media houses, and political parties.
The reports further observed an increase in the use of cybercrime and defamation laws against journalists, particularly through the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). It noted that the misuse of these laws, combined with the decline of district-level print media and unfair payment practices, has deepened the culture of self-censorship in newsrooms.
According to data shared by the Regional Union of Journalists in North Punjab, the first half of 2025 saw two physical attacks, 31 FIRs under the PECA law, and eight additional false cases registered against journalists under various laws. In central Punjab, at least 32 PECA-related cases were reported during the same period, including some filed over old social media posts.
The reports also highlighted that the collapse of print media and the rapid expansion of low-paying digital platforms have created financial instability for journalists. Many district correspondents are reportedly working without contracts, social protection, or fair wages.
Co-author Manahil Shahab, while sharing the findings with Voicepk.net, said that PECA has become a shared concern for journalists across both regions. “In the first six months of 2025, 31 PECA cases were registered against journalists in North Punjab,” she said. “We also found that the representation of women in TV channels and press clubs is extremely low, reflecting a significant gender gap in the media industry.”
The reports further noted that women journalists face additional challenges such as harassment, exclusion from press club memberships, and being confined to soft beats, though minor improvements have been observed in a few cities.
Freedom Network’s research also pointed out that several northern districts are located near conflict-prone areas, where local journalists continue to work without any security or institutional support, exposing them to serious safety threats.
To address these challenges, the reports proposed a series of recommendations, including:
1. Immediate passage of the Punjab Journalists Safety Law and establishment of a safety commission.
2. Implementation of minimum wage and labor rights for all reporters.
3. Transparent and merit-based advertisement distribution to end economic censorship.
4. Review of defamation laws to prevent their misuse.
5. Improved access to information and regular official briefings for the media.
6. Capacity-building initiatives, including digital safety and professional training.
7. Equal facilities and assignments for women journalists.
8. Stronger collaboration among media, civil society, academia, and industry to ensure sustainability of the journalism sector in Punjab.
The reports conclude that the current media environment in northern and central Punjab demands urgent policy attention to ensure journalists’ safety, protect press freedom, and strengthen the flow of accurate information to the public.