14 | January | 2025 | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Daily Archives: January 14, 2025

Network of Women Journalists for Digital Rights condemns “ongoing relentless harassment and gendered disinformation campaign” against journalist Asma Shirazi

Pakistan Press Foundation

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 […]


PPF Conducts Capacity-Building Workshop for Fellows From Across Pakistan

Pakistan Press Foundation

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 […]


Starlink Gets Registered in Pakistan; IT Minister Discusses Licensing Progress

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 […]


Senior Journalist Emanuel Sarfraz Passes Away

Pakistan Press Foundation

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 […]


Surge in VPN Usage Strains Pakistan’s Internet Infrastructure, Cause Financial Losses: PTA

Pakistan Press Foundation

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 […]


Information Minister Tarar Defends Country’s Internet

Pakistan Press Foundation

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 […]


Majority of Federal Ministries Fail to Disclose Public Information: FAFEN

Pakistan Press Foundation

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, […]


PTCL Says Additional Bandwidth acquired to deal with slow internet speeds; no timeframe for resolution provided: report

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 […]


WhatsApp Shifts Servers Overseas: reports

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 […]


Cabinet Approves Amendment to PTA Reorganisation Act

Pakistan Press Foundation

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 […]


ABN News and Daily Ausaf Chief Reporter Javed Shahzad Dies of Cardiac Arrest

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 […]