• January 14, 2025
• General News

In a statement issued on January 10, the Network of Women Journalists for Digital Rights (NWJDR) condemned the “ongoing relentless harassment and gendered disinformation campaign” against senior female journalist Asma Shirazi. As per the statement, the campaign was being led by “prominent political party supporters, and political commentators and vloggers.” “The harassment and vile comments against […]

• January 14, 2025
• PPF Activities

To enhance media safety and reporting standards, the Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) convened its Media Safety Investigative Reporting Fellows in Karachi for a three-day capacity-building workshop.  The workshop, from December 26th to 28th, 2024, brought together journalists from across Pakistan, including Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The workshop began with an overview and detailed review […]

• January 14, 2025
• Information Technology

Shaza Fatima Khawaja, the Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecom, met with a delegation from Starlink on January 7 to discuss the progress of their licensing. Starlink, an Elon Musk-owned company renowned for its cutting-edge Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, has completed registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP). However, the company is awaiting […]

• January 14, 2025
• Obituaries

Senior journalist and General Secretary of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Pakistan chapter, Emanuel Sarfraz, passed away due to cardiac arrest in the early hours of January 13. Sarfraz, a seasoned journalist with over three decades of experience, held prominent roles in Pakistan’s media industry. He served as the Editor Coordination and Magazine Editor for The Nation and […]

• January 14, 2025
• Access to Information

In a report by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), it has been disclosed that the increased adoption of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) during internet disruptions has led to significant financial and operational setbacks. According to the PTA, the excessive use of VPNs, which bypass local Content Delivery Networks (CDNs), has intensified the strain on Pakistan’s […]

• January 14, 2025
• Access to Information, Information Technology

On January 7, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar asserted that the country boasts superior and more affordable internet services than many other countries globally. Speaking at the inauguration of the Media Cricket League 2025, Tarar countered claims of costly internet outages, citing improvements and dismissing criticisms as being politicised without substantiation. “There were a few glitches […]

• January 14, 2025
• Right to Information

A new assessment by the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) has revealed that most federal ministries and divisions in Pakistan are not meeting their legal obligations under the Right of Access to Information (RTI) Act, 2017. The failure to disclose critical public information proactively has raised concerns over the spread of misinformation and disinformation, […]

• January 14, 2025
• Information Technology

Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) on January 9 said that additional bandwidth had been acquired to deal with slow internet speeds in  Pakistan. PTCL spokesperson Aamir Pasha confirmed that they had “added additional bandwidth which has majorly resolved [the] internet slowness issue.” He added: “We expect complete resolution over the next few days. PTA and PTCL are working diligently […]

• January 14, 2025
• Information Technology

Persistent internet slowdowns in Pakistan have compelled WhatsApp, one of the world’s widely used messaging platforms, to relocate its servers outside the country, ARY News reported. According to the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA), WhatsApp’s decision to shift its Content Delivery Network (CDN) abroad caused connectivity challenges for users. The country faced recurring internet disruptions in the past year. Data […]

• January 14, 2025
• Information Technology

The federal cabinet has approved an amendment to the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-Organisation) Act, 1996, authorising the federal government to determine the pay and allowances of the chairman and members of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). The decision was made following audit objections to the allowances being paid to PTA officials. Auditors noted that the chairman and members […]

• January 14, 2025
• Obituaries

Javed Shahzad, the Chief Reporter of ABN News and Daily Ausaf, passed away on January 12 due to a cardiac arrest. Shahzad was rushed to the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC) after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest. Despite the best efforts of the medical team, his life could not be saved. Shahzad was a respected figure in […]

• January 10, 2025
• Freedom of Expression

A mob attacked the team of ARY News‘ investigative program Sar-e-Aam while they were conducting a sting operation against an electricity theft network in Lyari, Karachi. Anchorperson Iqrar-ul-Hassan and his crew were targeted with scalding water laced with chili powder. Despite the presence of law enforcement, the violence escalated.  Although Hassan and his team narrowly avoided serious injuries, […]

• January 9, 2025
• General News

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has ordered the  Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA)  to recover more than Rs70 billion from telecom companies with Long Distance International (LDI) licenses. The court’s order followed a detailed hearing about the non-payment of dues, with the PTA being instructed to initiate the recovery process immediately after hearing the companies’ responses. In parallel, the National […]

• January 7, 2025
• Media and Governance

On January 3, the Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting, led by Chairman Senator Syed Ali Zafar, held a session to deliberate on potential amendments to the Right of Access to Information Act, 2017. After consultations with stakeholders, the committee requested the relevant ministry to draft proposed changes to enhance the Act. The session […]