President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday expressed the government’s resolve to protect press freedom and stressed the importance of credible journalism.

They issued separate messages on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, reaffirming that Pakistan, as a state, remained firmly committed to safeguarding and promoting freedom of the press.

In his message, President Zardari said this year’s theme, “Shaping a Future at Peace”, underscored that peace cannot be secured without truth.

Noting that Article 19 of the Constitution guaranteed the right to press freedom subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law, the president said, “A free, independent and diverse media is not a threat to a confident nation, rather a proof of one.”

“At the same time, freedom brings responsibility. Accuracy must not be sacrificed for speed and balance must not give way to partisanship. Public trust, the most valuable asset of free press, must be earned, protected and never taken for granted,” he remarked.

President Zardari added, “We face a moment of particular urgency. Deliberate campaigns of falsehood targeting Pakistan seek to sow division and weaken our national cohesion.”

He hailed the Pakistani media for “standing firm like a wall against the wave of disinformation” during the conflict with India last year.

“It responded not with force, but with facts. Not with noise, but with clarity. A nation that aspires to be a trusted voice in the world needs a credible information environment at home.”

The president called on the federal and provincial governments to ensure enabling laws and a safe environment for journalists.

“I also urge media institutions to uphold rigorous ethical standards and call upon the citizens to reject falsehood and support credible journalism,” he added.

In his statement, the president also pointed out the risks posed by disinformation, misinformation and artificial intelligence. “Across the world, journalists continue to face harassment, legal intimidation, economic pressure and in far too many cases, physical danger.”

He continued: “Sadly, powerful global media, especially social media with the help of artificial intelligence, deep fake, today is promoting jingoistic, xenophobic, racist, populist, fascist and might-is-right agendas.”

He observed that tech giants that own social media platforms viewed nation states “with disdain and try to manufacture consent, many a times against the working people and oppressed nations using their algorithmic interventions”.

“Today, the free press is threatened more by the non-state actors, and that includes tech giants and big business,” President Zardari highlighted.

Meanwhile, in his statement, PM Shehbaz noted that “timely dissemination of accurate, impartial, and unbiased information remains the cornerstone of credible journalism”.

“It is the responsibility of every journalist to uphold professional ethics by countering propaganda, fake news, and by effectively discouraging the spread of unverified information. Journalists are not only the custodians of professional standards but are also the guardians of societal values,” he stressed.

The prime minister said the spread of “fake news and coordinated disinformation campaigns poses a real threat to national cohesion and global credibility”.

“Ensuring both speed and credibility in news dissemination is imperative. I urge all journalists to uphold the highest standards of verification, integrity, and professionalism, so that in this fast-paced digital era, competition never comes at the cost of truth,” he said.

The premier also lauded the national media for showing “commendable responsibility during critical conflict moments”, including the May 2025 conflict with India a year ago.

He recalled that the media “contributed to a coordinated national response, reinforced unity, and presented Pakistan’s position with clarity and accuracy”, while also countering misinformation.

Referring to this year’s theme of “Shaping a Peaceful Future”, PM Shehbaz highlighted that the “availability of credible information, responsible journalism, and informed public discourse play a decisive role in shaping sustainable peace globally”.

“The media holds immense potential to promote constructive engagement and strengthen diplomatic, economic, and social ties among nations. Often, accurate representation of perspectives can help resolve complex issues,” the prime minister remarked.

He further noted, “The media landscape is rapidly evolving with technological advancements. Digital platforms now play a pivotal role in shaping both national and global public opinion.

“In this changing environment, the media has an important responsibility to effectively project Pakistan’s national identity and perspective on the global stage. Media institutions must adapt to digital transformation with both speed and a strong sense of responsibility.”

A recent report, released by the Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), noted that Pakistan’s media is caught in a bind — squeezed simultaneously by legal pressure, physical violence, digital harassment and financial coercion.

It documented at least 233 incidents of journalists being targeted between January 2025 and April 2026, including 67 assaults, 67 criminal complaints, 11 arrests, 11 detentions and three abductions.