ISLAMABAD: Global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has released its annual Press Freedom Index, revealing a further decline in Pakistan\’s ranking.
According to the 2024 report, Pakistan now ranks 158 out of 180 countries, down from 152 last year.
The organization cited increasing threats to journalists, state control, censorship, and restrictions on freedom of expression as key reasons for the decline. It also highlighted that the pressure on the media is not only political but increasingly economic, posing a serious threat to press freedom.
The global situation is also alarming. The report revealed that nearly one-third of countries are seeing news organizations shut down due to financial crises, while many governments – particularly authoritarian regimes – are using economic pressure as a tool to control the media.
Concerns were also raised about press freedom in India, where the report noted that media ownership is increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few political elites, hindering independent journalism.
The report described the situation in Palestine as \”devastating,\” stating that nearly 200 journalists have been killed in Israeli military actions – an issue of grave concern for the international community.
Reporters Without Borders has urged governments to protect journalists and ensure real press freedom through effective and transparent measures.