Mass media in Pakistan: Difference between revisions

{{see also|Censorship in Pakistan|Internet censorship in Pakistan}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}

{{Culture of Pakistan}}

To a large extent the media enjoys freedom of expression in spite of political pressure and direct bans sometimes administered by political stake holders.<ref name="i-m-s.dk">[http://www.i-m-s.dk/files/publications/1491%20Pakistan.final.web.pdf "Media in Pakistan: Between radicalisation and democratisation in an unfolding conflict"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091229205633/http://www.i-m-s.dk/files/publications/1491%20Pakistan.final.web.pdf |date=29 December 2009 }}, International Media Support, July 2009, 56 pages.</ref> 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. In addition, media is also threatened by non-state actors involved in the current conflict.<ref name="i-m-s.dk"/> Security situation of the journalist has improved and the number of journalist killed in Pakistan has also declined considerably.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://nation.com.pk/01-Nov-2018/26-journalists-killed-in-last-5-years-in-pakistan|title=26 journalists killed in last 5 years in Pakistan|access-date=1 November 2018|publisher=The Nation}}</ref><ref name="decline">{{cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/466152-why-pakistan-and-india-coming-down-on-world-press-freedom-index|title=Why Pakistan and India coming down on World Press Freedom Index?|work=The News|date=3 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503035927/https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/466152-why-pakistan-and-india-coming-down-on-world-press-freedom-index|archive-date=3 May 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> However, the press freedom in Pakistan continues to decline.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/07/media-watchdogs-slam-brazen-censorship-pakistan-190710131424680.html|title=Media watchdogs slam 'brazen censorship' by Pakistan|website=www.aljazeera.com|access-date=2019-10-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.samaa.tv/news/2019/05/pakistan-struggles-at-142nd-rank-on-world-press-freedom-index/|title=Pakistan struggles at 142nd rank on World Press Freedom Index {{!}} Samaa Digital|website=Samaa TV|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-08}}</ref>

 

 

==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 [[Pervez Musharraf|Musharraf]] regime.

 

 

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.

 

==Role in exposing corruption==

 

* The [[Pakistan Steel Mills]] Rs. 26 billion scam;<ref>[http://tribune.com.pk/story/380063/rs26-billion-corruption-nab-given-3-months-to-probe-steel-mills-case/ "Rs26 billion corruption: NAB given 3 months to probe steel mills case"], Azam Khan, ''The Express Tribune'', 17 May 2012.</ref>

* Bribery and corruption in [[Pakistan International Airlines]] which caused losses of $500 million;<ref>[http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2012/02/26/news/national/500m-corruption-in-pia-says-pti/ "$500m corruption in PIA, says PTI"], Pakistan Today, 26 February 2012.</ref>

* Embezzlement in [[Pakistan Railways]] causing massive financial losses;<ref>[http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2010/11/22/news/national/railways-2009-10-audit-highlights-massive-corruption-and-losses/ "Railways’ 2009-10 audit highlights massive corruption and losses"], Irfan Bukhari, Pakistan Today. 22 November 2010.</ref>

* [[NATO logistics in the Afghan War|NATO containers' case]] where 40 containers heading for [[International Security Assistance Force|ISAF in Afghanistan]] went missing;<ref>[http://archives.dawn.com/archives/43563 "Arrests made, warrants issued in Nato container case"], Dawn Media Group, 1 July 2010.</ref>

* [[Energy in Pakistan|Rental power projects]] corruption<ref>[http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-13-15546-US-starts-probe-into-RPPs-scam " US starts probe into rental power projects scam "], Ansar Abbasi, ''The News International'', 23 June 2012.</ref>

TENSIONS:

 

 

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 [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office|UK Foreign Office]] states that it is vital that the right to [[freedom of expression]] continues to be upheld by the [[Government of Pakistan|Pakistani Government]]. This was highlighted by an event supporting freedom of expression run by the [[European Union]] in Pakistan, which the United Kingdom supported.<ref>[http://en.rsf.org/pakistan-journalists-in-danger-30-10-2012,43607.html "Journalists in danger"], Reporters Without Borders, 30 October 2012.</ref><ref>[http://www.supremecourt.gov.pk/web/user_files/File/Const.P.105of2012-22.04.13.pdf 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.</ref>

 

==International co-operation==

* issued licenses for 129 [[FM radio]] stations, including 18 non-commercial licenses to leading universities offering courses mass communication and six licenses in [[Azad Jammu and Kashmir]];

* registered 2,346 [[cable TV]] systems serving an estimated 8 million households; and

 

PEMRA is also involved in media censorship and occasionally halts broadcasts and closes media outlets. Publication or broadcast of "anything which defames or brings into ridicule the head of state, or members of the armed forces, or executive, legislative or judicial organs of the state", as well as any broadcasts deemed to be "false or baseless" can bring jail terms of up to three years, fines of up to 10 million rupees (US$165,000), and license cancellation. In practice, these rules and regulations are not enforced.<ref name=FH-FOTP-2010>[http://freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=251&year=2010 "Country report: Pakistan (2010)"], ''Freedom of the Press 2010'', Freedom House, 27 April 2010.</ref>

 

In the early 21st century, as in the rest of the world, the number of print outlets in Pakistan declined precipitously, but total circulation numbers increased.{{citation needed|date=June 2011}} From 1994 to 1997, the total number of daily, monthly, and other publications increased from 3,242 to 4,455, but had dropped to just 945 by 2003 with most of the decline occurring in the [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab Province]]. However, from 1994 to 2003 total print circulation increased substantially, particularly for dailies (3 million to 6.2 million). And after the low point in 2003 the number of publications grew to 1279 in 2004, to 1997 in 2005, 1467 in 2006, 1820 in 2007, and 1199 in 2008.<ref>[http://www.statpak.gov.pk/fbs/sites/default/files/social_statistics/media_and_recreation_statistics/newspapers.pdf ''Newspapers and periodicals by language and province 1999 to 2008''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113155608/http://www.statpak.gov.pk/fbs/sites/default/files/social_statistics/media_and_recreation_statistics/newspapers.pdf |date=13 November 2011 }}, Provincial Public Relation Departments, Federal Bureau of Statistics, Government of Pakistan, 27 April 2009.</ref>

 

Newspapers and magazines are published in 11 languages; most in [[Urdu]] and [[Sindhi language|Sindhi]], but [[English language|English]]-language publications are numerous.{{citation needed|date=June 2011}} Most print media are privately owned, but the government controls the [[Associated Press of Pakistan]], one of the major news agencies. From 1964 into the early 1990s, the National Press Trust acted as the government's front to control the press. The state, however, no longer publishes daily newspapers; the former Press Trust sold or liquidated its newspapers and magazines in the early 1990s.<ref name=PakPressRef/>

 

Pakistan's major news agencies include:

* [[The Asian Wire]]

 

==See also==

*[[Censorship in Pakistan]]

*[[Internet censorship in Pakistan]]

 

== Bibliography ==

<!--<ref>Hassan Nasir Mirbahar & Raymond Serrato [https://democracy-reporting.org/dri_publications/social-media-and-elections/ "How can social media impact Pakistan’s 2018 elections?"], June 12, 2018.</ref>-->

 

* [http://www.pemra.gov.pk Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA)], website

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120128084357/http://infoasaid.org/sites/infoasaid.org/files/pakistan_media_and_telecoms_landcape_guide_19.04.11_0.pdf Media and Telecommunications Lansdcape Guide in Pakistan], an [[infoasaid]] guide, April 2011, 108 pp.