President, Prime Minister reaffirm commitment to press freedom on World Press Freedom Day

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to press freedom on World Press Freedom Day and emphasized the importance of responsible journalism, truth and media ethics.

In his message, President Zardari said that Pakistan as a state remains firmly committed to freedom of the press as both a constitutional guarantee and a democratic necessity.

Sending greetings to journalists, editors, media workers and media professionals in Pakistan and around the world, he noted that this year’s theme, “Shaping a Future at Peace”, emphasized that peace could not be built without truth and that truth depended on those who had the courage and integrity to seek, verify and present it.

He said the challenges to press freedom were enormous, adding that misinformation eroded public trust while disinformation distorted democratic discourse. He said artificial intelligence held both promise and risk, while journalists globally continued to face harassment, legal intimidation, financial pressure and physical danger.

Read: The Prime Minister renews the commitment to the protection, safety and independence of media and journalists on World Press Freedom Day

He further said that powerful global media, especially social media, using artificial intelligence and deepfake technology, promoted jingoistic, xenophobic, racist, populist, fascist and might-be-right agendas. He said tech giants who own social media platforms looked down on nation-states and tried to manufacture consent, often against working people and oppressed nations, through algorithmic interventions. He added that the free press was increasingly threatened by non-state actors, including tech giants and big business.

President Zardari said that Article 19 of the Constitution of Pakistan guaranteed the right to freedom of the press subject to reasonable restrictions imposed by law, while Article 19-A, added under the 18th Amendment, guaranteed the right of the people to know. He said that a free, independent and diverse media was not a threat to a confident nation, but proof of it.

He said accountability, transparency and open inquiry formed the basis of democracy, adding that freedom also brought responsibility. He emphasized that accuracy must not be sacrificed for speed and balance must not give way to bias, while public trust must be earned and protected.

He also said that deliberate false campaigns targeting Pakistan sought to sow division and weaken national cohesion. Referring to May 2025, he said that when aggression was directed at Pakistan, the nation stood united under Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos, the Unbreakable Wall. He said Pakistan’s media also stood firm against misinformation, responded with facts and clarity and helped maintain a credible information environment.

He paid tribute to journalists who lost their lives in pursuit of the truth, especially in conflict areas, and urged the federal and provincial governments to ensure enabling laws and a safe environment for journalists. He also called on media institutions to uphold ethical standards and urged citizens to reject falsehood and support credible journalism.

Separately, in his message, Prime Minister Shehbaz reaffirmed his government’s commitment to protect and promote press freedom while ensuring an enabling environment for the media to operate.

Read more: Prime Minister promises to uphold press freedom

Expressing appreciation to journalists, columnists, journalists, editors, broadcasters and all media workers for their services, he said that conscientious professionalism was essential for an informed society.

He said timely dissemination of accurate, impartial and unbiased information remained the cornerstone of credible journalism. He added that journalists had a responsibility to uphold professional ethics by countering propaganda, fake news and unverified information, saying they were custodians of professional standards and societal values.

The Prime Minister said this year’s theme, “Shaping a Peaceful Future”, reflected the importance of credible information and responsible journalism in building sustainable peace. He said the media had enormous potential to promote constructive engagement and strengthen diplomatic, economic and social ties between nations.

He said that Pakistan is a peace-loving country that prioritizes dialogue and negotiations to resolve differences and conflicts. He added that Pakistan continued to play a positive role in promoting de-escalation, dialogue and stability, and said that international media had recognized its constructive efforts.

He noted that at critical moments, including Marka-e-Haq and Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos, the national media showed responsibility by contributing to unity, countering misinformation and presenting Pakistan’s position with clarity and accuracy.

He paid tribute to journalists who lost their lives in the line of duty, calling freedom of the press a valuable and invaluable asset.

He said the media landscape was evolving rapidly with digital platforms shaping public opinion globally. He emphasized that media institutions must adapt to digital transformation with speed and accountability.

Read also: Free press essential for democracy: Shafi Jan

He warned that fake news and coordinated disinformation campaigns posed a threat to national cohesion and global credibility, and urged journalists to maintain verification, integrity and professionalism so that speed never came at the expense of truth.

He said the media played a vital role in promoting national unity and highlighting public issues, adding that the government would continue to support press freedom so that the media could fulfill its responsibilities with truth and integrity.