Mass media in Pakistan provides information on television, radio, cinema, newspapers, and magazines in Pakistan.
Pakistan has a vibrant media landscape; among the most dynamic in South Asia. Pakistan has around 300 privately owned daily newspapers. According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, they had a combined daily sale of 6.1 million copies in 2009. Television is the main source of news and information for people in Pakistan's towns, cities and large areas of the countryside. Marketing research company Gallup Pakistan, estimated there were 86 million TV viewers in Pakistan in 2009. According to a report by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) in 2021, Pakistan’s media sector experienced rapid expansion after liberalisation in the early 2000s. Employment in the media industry increased from around 2,000 workers in 2002 to approximately 250,000 by 2018. The number of working journalists in 2018 was estimated at about 18,000. The report estimated the total annual revenue of the media industry at , largely driven by advertising.
Reporters Without Borders in its 2020 Press Freedom Index ranked Pakistan number 145 out of 180 countries based on freedom of the press. Political pressure on media is mostly done indirectly. One tool widely used by the government is to cut off 'unfriendly' media from governmental advertising. Using draconian laws the government has also banned or officially silenced popular television channels. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has been used to silence the broadcast media by either suspending licenses or by simply threatening to do so."Media in Pakistan: Between radicalisation and democratisation in an unfolding conflict" , International Media Support, July 2009, 56 pages. Media coverage of abuses by both the Pakistan Armed Forces and militant groups is hindered by an ongoing climate of fear. Journalists, who encounter threats and attacks, resort to self-censorship more frequently to protect themselves.
In 2018, the security situation of journalists improved and the number of journalists killed in Pakistan declined considerably. However, press freedom continued to decline. In 2023, after the May 9 riots, the Pakistani government intensified its grip on the media, leading to media professionals experiencing heightened coercion, censorship, and a surge in journalist arrests.
Overview
Since 2002, the Pakistani media has become powerful and independent and the number of private television channels have grown from just three state-run channels in 2000 to 89 in 2012, according to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority. Most of the private media in Pakistan flourished under the Musharraf regime.
Pakistan has a vibrant media landscape and enjoys independence to a large extent. After having been liberalised in 2002, the television sector experienced a media boom. In the fierce competitive environment that followed commercial interests became paramount and quality journalism gave way to sensationalism. Although the radio sector has not seen similar growth, independent radio channels are numerous and considered very important sources of information - especially in the rural areas.
The Pakistani media landscape reflects a multi-linguistic, multi-ethnic and class-divided society. There is a clear divide between Urdu and English media. The Urdu media, particularly the newspapers, are widely read by the masses - mostly in rural areas. The English media is urban and elite-centric, is more liberal and professional compared to the Urdu media. English print, television and radio channels have far smaller audiences than their Urdu counterparts, but have greater leverage among opinion makers, politicians, the business community and the upper strata of society.
Pakistan has a vibrant media landscape; among the most dynamic and outspoken in South Asia. To a large extent the media enjoys freedom of expression. More than 89 television channels beam soaps, satire, music programmes, films, religious speech, political talk shows, and news of the hour. Although sometimes criticise for being unprofessional and politically biased, the television channels have made a great contribution to the media landscape and to Pakistani society.
Radio channels are numerous and considered a very important source of information - especially in the rural areas. Besides the state channel Radio Pakistan, a number of private radios carry independent journalistic content and news. But most radio content is music and entertainment. There are hundreds of Pakistani newspapers from the large national Urdu newspapers to the small local vernacular papers.
Pakistan's media sector is highly influenced by the ownership structure. There are three dominating media moguls, or large media groups, which to some extent also have political affiliations. Due to their dominance in both print and broadcast industries all three media groups are very influential in politics and society.
History The media in Pakistan dates back to pre-partition years of British India, where a number of newspapers were established to promote a communalistic or partition agenda. The newspaper Dawn, founded by Muhammad Ali Jinnah and first published in 1941, was dedicated to promoting for an independent Pakistan. The conservative newspaper, Nawa-i-Waqt, established in 1940 was the mouthpiece of the Muslim elites who were among the strongest supporters for an independent Pakistan.
In a sense, Pakistani print media came into existence with a mission to promulgate the idea of Pakistan, which was seen as the best national option for the Muslim minority in British India and as a form of self-defense against suppression from the Hindu majority.
In 2025, a nationwide study on media and communication education in Pakistan surveyed faculty at 92 universities and colleges offering bachelor’s degrees in media and communication studies. The number of higher-education institutions offering media and communication degrees had increased from 21 in 2006 to about 100, with nearly 37,500 students enrolled nationwide.
Role in exposing corruption Since the introduction of these vibrant TV channels, many major corruption cases and scams have been unveiled by journalists. Notable among them are:
The Pakistan Steel Mills Rs. 26 billion scam;"Rs26 billion corruption: NAB given 3 months to probe steel mills case", Azam Khan, The Express Tribune, 17 May 2012. National Insurance Company Limited scandal; Bribery and corruption in Pakistan International Airlines which caused losses of $500 million;"$500m corruption in PIA, says PTI", Pakistan Today, 26 February 2012. Embezzlement in Pakistan Railways causing massive financial losses;"Railways’ 2009-10 audit highlights massive corruption and losses", Irfan Bukhari, Pakistan Today. 22 November 2010. Hajj corruption case; NATO containers' case where 40 containers heading for ISAF in Afghanistan went missing;"Arrests made, warrants issued in Nato container case", Dawn Media Group, 1 July 2010. Rental power projects corruption" US starts probe into rental power projects scam ", Ansar Abbasi, The News International, 23 June 2012. Ephedrine quota case, a scandal involving the son of former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani to pressure officials of the Health Ministry to allocate a quota of controlled chemical ephedrine to two different pharmaceutical companies."Ephedrine Quota Case" , Awaz Internet TV. Malik Riaz's 'Media Gate' in which the son of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry is said to have taken money from Malik Riaz to give favourable decisions from the Supreme Court.
“Malik Riaz's case proved that the media can hold the judiciary and even itself accountable", says Javed Chaudhry, columnist and anchorperson working with Express News. "This case, along with the missing persons' case has established impartiality and credibility of the media in its fight against corruption". Chaudhry feels, like many others in country, that the media in Pakistan has become free and fair during the last decade. "The Pakistani media has covered the journey of 100 years in just 10 years, but their curiosity and thrust for revelation does not end and that is what drives the media"."Pakistani media's fight against corruption: A Case Study for Afghan Media", Mokhtar Wafayi and Haris Bin Aziz, The Express Tribune, 23 July 2012.
Tensions According to a report by the UK Foreign Office, Pakistan's media environment continued to develop and, in many cases, flourish. Since opening up in 2002, the number and range of media outlets has proliferated, so that Pakistanis now have greater access than ever before to a range of broadcasting through print, television and online media. The increased media penetration into most aspects of Pakistani life has created challenges as well as opportunities, as both the journalistic community and politicians and officials build their understanding of effective freedom of expression and responsible reporting.
However, in 2011, Reporters Without Borders listed Pakistan as one of the ten most deadly places to be a journalist. As the War in North-West Pakistan continued, there have been frequent threats against journalists. The proliferation of the media in Pakistan since 2002 has brought a massive increase in the number of domestic and foreign journalists operating in Pakistan. The UK Foreign Office states that it is vital that the right to freedom of expression continues to be upheld by the Pakistani Government. This was highlighted by an event supporting freedom of expression run by the European Union in Pakistan, which the United Kingdom supported."Journalists in danger", Reporters Without Borders, 30 October 2012.Journalist's secret fund List, Constitution Petition No.105/2012, No. 104/2012, No. 53/1012, and No. 117/2012, Supreme Court of Pakistan, 22 April 2013.
Matiullah Jan, a prominent journalist in Pakistan, who highlights the Pakistani Armies atrocities, was picked up from streets in Islamabad. While the media fraternity kept quiet.
International co-operation
Support for creation of new media In 2012–14, UPI Next with NearMedia LLC helped Pakistani journalists to create PakPolWiki , an online resource for coverage of the national elections, and Truth Tracker, a fact-checking website. In this project, the team held learning sessions across the country and conducted individual mentoring for journalists to produce stories that meet national and international standards.
NearMedia continued the effort with a project for 2014-15 that, in partnership with Media Foundation 360, launched News Lens Pakistan, an independent online news cooperative which publishes stories in English, Urdu and Pashto for a national audience, and distributes these stories to national and local news outlets. Learning sessions, in which editors work with reporters newsroom-style to improve their skills, are held in districts of all provinces, and international journalists work with the Pakistan team to mentor them individually.
Pakistan - US Journalists Exchange Program Since 2011, the East-West Center (EWC), headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii, have been organising the annual Pakistan - United States Journalists Exchange program. It was launched and designed to increase and deepen public understanding of the two countries and their important relationship, one that is crucial to regional stability and the global war on terrorism. While there have been many areas of agreement and cooperation, deep mistrust remains between the two, who rarely get opportunities to engage with each other and thus rely on media for their information and viewpoints. Unresolved issues continue to pose challenges for both countries.