Pakistan Drops Two Ranks In 2024 Press Freedom

The 2024 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) unveiled Pakistan’s descent by two positions, now standing at 152 out of 180 nations, a shift noted on World Press Freedom Day.

RSF’s report delved into Pakistan’s historical struggle between civil society’s pursuit of press freedom and the dominance of the political-military elite over media outlets since its inception. While acknowledging the diversification of Pakistan’s media scene post the state monopoly’s end in 2002,

Read more: India’s Internet freedom ranked worst in the world.

RSF highlighted the vulnerability of privately owned media to government influence due to reliance on legal notices and public sector advertisements for financial backing. This financial strain often results in self-censorship among journalists during economic crises. RSF also noted the paradox of political parties advocating for press freedom but struggling to uphold it when in power, partly due to military influence over national affairs.

The report highlighted the government’s direct control over media regulators, prioritizing government interests over public access to information. Additionally, RSF underscored the perilous environment for journalists in Pakistan, citing unsolved murders and numerous violations documented by the Freedom Network’s Pakistan Press Freedom Report.

Conversely, India saw a slight improvement, rising two spots to 159, attributed to unofficial media restrictions since Narendra Modi’s rise to power. Norway maintained its lead in press freedom, with Eritrea replacing North Korea as the lowest-ranked country. RSF warned against the global trend of political interference in media, aiming to discredit and silence journalists.