Pakistan falls to 158th on World Press Freedom Index

Pakistan has dropped to the 158th position on the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, reflecting deepening concerns over press freedom and freedom of expression in the country.

In its annual index released ahead of World Press Freedom Day, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) described the global media freedom environment as the worst in history. For the first time, RSF has downgraded the global situation from “problematic” to “difficult” — the second-lowest category in its ranking system.

The organization attributed this decline to growing economic pressures on media outlets, rising political interference, rampant disinformation, and escalating violence against journalists around the world.

Pakistan’s worsening ranking follows the release of a damning report by the Freedom Network, titled “Free Speech and Public Interest Journalism Under Siege.” The report warned of an "existential threat" to the country’s media landscape due to mounting restrictions, declining journalist safety, and deteriorating job security.

It also highlighted the controversial amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) as a major contributor to the increasingly hostile environment for press freedom in Pakistan.