Govt has given state-run media full editorial control over content: information minister

E-Paper | July 16, 2026

Information Minister Chaudhary Fawad Hussain on Tuesday announced that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government has "lifted all political censorship in state-run media outlets".

The minister further stated that Pakistan Television (PTV) and Radio Pakistan will now enjoy complete editorial independence over the content they produce.

Promising "visible and drastic changes" in the Ministry of Information within the next three months, the minister said new instructions — "in line with the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan" — have been issued to state-run institutions for complete editorial independence.

The incumbent regime has started to exert its power since taking shape following PM Khan's swearing in as the 22nd prime minister of Pakistan.

Khan in his first public speech after the July 25 election, broadcast Sunday, August 19, had promised wide-ranging reforms in government institutions with a view to make them independent and free from political corruption.

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Jawad Arshad

Aug 21, 2018 03:19pm

Still a state-run Media. That is a big reason to be biased. Privatize it for full autonomy.

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Ahmed

Aug 21, 2018 03:29pm

No kidding!

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Socrates

Aug 21, 2018 03:31pm

Appreciable but non-implementable for obvious reasons. Still good to hear that a 'change' is coming.

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Akber

Aug 21, 2018 03:31pm

The ministry should however enforce the law that any journalist spreading false news or stating incorrect facts should be banned from journalism. additionally the source of new found wealth of these rich anchors should be brought under review

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KHALED

Aug 21, 2018 03:32pm

Lets see, to early to comment.

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Imran Khilji

Aug 21, 2018 03:36pm

Great News! All ends well that begins well. Great start for PM Imran Khan and his administration.

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Umar Ibn Ayaz

Aug 21, 2018 03:39pm

Finally, first step to uplift the former glory of PTV.

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Saif

Aug 21, 2018 03:40pm

Responsible journalism and national interest must be top priority.

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Aug 21, 2018 03:43pm

Good beginning. Hope it sustains.

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Taimoor Khizar

Aug 21, 2018 03:47pm

Great decision. Hope to see PTV competing with other TV channels but i think it can only happen if it is privatised 'cause its really hard for a state-run channel to be unbiased since its still a STATE-RUN.

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Shakeel Shah Hussaini

Aug 21, 2018 03:51pm

Good initiatives but the purpose of state media always remains to protect states interest against every move that target to derail or destroy state image. it can not be and should not be fully independent like private channels. PTV is the voice of incumbent regime and it should keep it like that.

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Asif A. Shah

Aug 21, 2018 04:04pm

Good step. This will help develop an issue oriented politics in Pakistan. It is likely to make PTI a bit more popular.

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Noor

Aug 21, 2018 04:10pm

Can watch PTV now.

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Javed

Aug 21, 2018 04:16pm

Really! That will be a first.

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chymera

Aug 21, 2018 04:21pm

So far IK is taking positive steps forward... still waiting for the main course though.

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Alba

Aug 21, 2018 04:38pm

Bring on the Turkish soap operas. They will change women's lives.

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MSA

Aug 21, 2018 04:48pm

But PTI has been talking about privatising the state-run media; why not do it now?

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Zubair

Aug 21, 2018 05:01pm

Privatise your national media? If you privatise your national media you run the risk of it being bought by powerful entities hell bent on pedalling anti-pakistan sentiment. Fix, regulate and integrate it with a website and digital strategy to generate revenue for an interactive relationship between state and audiences brought about by the digital revolution. You dont need vision as templates can be found in every progressive country such as British Broadcasting Corporation better known as BBC.com

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Zahid

Aug 21, 2018 05:02pm

Please, develope independent editorial guidelines like BBC. BBC is a state-owned institution but far greater credibility than many commercials outlets. It will be great service to nation.

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Hasan

Aug 21, 2018 05:15pm

@Jawad Arshad You think privatising is the route to independent reporting? So ARY, Geo News, etc are completely impartial news channels, are they? I'm sure Rupert Murdoch would be delighted by that assessment. State owned media is every bit as important as private media. In the UK, the BBC is a government news service, and yet it pulls no punches when it comes to reporting against its own paymaster. Hasan

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reality bites

Aug 21, 2018 05:21pm

Fine, but sensitive issues should not be allowed to be toiled by any media outlet like national security and terrorism.

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Abdel Rahman Jan

Aug 21, 2018 05:24pm

Let's hope for the best. Many countries have state media in addition to private groups, that doesn't stop honest and objective reporting. I would however request the Minister to do one thing - get all the public and private media to agree to a common charter of journalistic responsibility and decency. This would go a long way towards regulating and improving overall standards please.

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Suchbaath

Aug 21, 2018 05:41pm

Why not auction out the state media so state can make money, and next government have nothing to control? Keep some state requirements in sale deed to have them carry out emergency announcements etc or cover Foreign and Defence views on priority basis.

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M. Saeed

Aug 21, 2018 06:04pm

Full self control to perennially irresponsible media to do all nonsense that it can conceive to frustrate the unsuspecting people of the country.

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Frkh

Aug 21, 2018 06:05pm

@Jawad Arshad there are already many private news channels

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Nia

Aug 21, 2018 06:21pm

Seeing is believing

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Ahmed

Aug 21, 2018 06:35pm

Good decision. Now they can be held accountable for fake news.

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ahamed

Aug 21, 2018 06:37pm

On their part, the media will have to show maturity and fairness to sustain freedom. Great initiative of IK's govt.

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Sufi

Aug 21, 2018 06:49pm

@Jawad Arshad, that is simply not true. Some of the best news or media organizations are state owned, i.e BBC, PBS, CBC, Telesur, and quite a few more. Private news organizations are also biased, towards their advertisers or their owners. Nobody can claim that fox News or MSNBC are unbiased organizations.

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Ahsan Gul

Aug 21, 2018 07:24pm

Like Mr. Fawad for his prompt and genuine comments. Our country will progress only when we bring corrupt politicians and their looted money back to Pakistan. PML-N has done considerable damage to our institutions and to our country as whole.

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Anis Motiwala

Aug 21, 2018 07:28pm

In which developed or developing countries is state run media completely independent? My ignorance may be, but I believe none. But even if the incumbent Government succeeds in allowing PTV and Radio Pakistan to do away with hilarious antics of blacking out news and over-promoting patriotism to an ostentatious level, it will still be an achievement. We can do with an electronic version of the Pakistan Times of the past.

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Zaki Bakhteyar

Aug 21, 2018 08:00pm

Great step. Please make PEMRA more effective so that journalists or media houses that spread fake news are fully accounted for. No mercy for corrupt media houses. Any hearsay and false mongering must be eradicated at all cost to ensure peace in the society. Else, freedom in the hands of some can be very dangerous.

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Aug 21, 2018 08:49pm

PTV should be shut down. The state should not own TV stations or newspapers. However, policy as well as legislation is needed to stop journalists from spreading fake or fabricated news and stories. A new law should allow filing of petitions against journalists in the civil courts and if any journalist is found guilty of fabricating, he/she should be banned from journalism related jobs for life with heavy fines on him/her as well as on the media company represented by them.

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im.naheem@gmail.com

Aug 21, 2018 09:11pm

@Jawad Arshad BBC and Doordarshan are state run tv channels which are providing excellent quality programming aswell as projecting the countries image in the world.

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Raja Amer Khan

Aug 21, 2018 09:55pm

The PTV should have a standard like BBC.

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saber

Aug 21, 2018 10:01pm

Great , freedom of speech should be respected.

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Dr Asif Javed

Aug 21, 2018 10:44pm

People calling for complete privatisation of PTV are missing the point - the BBC is a taxpayer funded channel that has kept its editorial credibility - PTV can do the same

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Munir

Aug 21, 2018 10:44pm

Editorial independence yes, privatisation no, because private sector by its nature primarily interested in making profit which often results in sensationalism.

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Bilal

Aug 21, 2018 10:46pm

Sir jee, first please lift censorship from private channels and newspapers.

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Faisal

Aug 21, 2018 11:05pm

Even private media isnt free and u r saying we are freeing government media. What a joke !

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Syed

Aug 22, 2018 12:04am

Managed democracy, managed media, managed politicians and managed courts. Dare to publish this?

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numbersnumbers

Aug 22, 2018 12:23am

And when will government “moderators” be removed from Dawn comment section???

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numbersnumbers

Aug 22, 2018 12:26am

@Hasan BBC was caught pushing fake news about Gulf War, and many lost their jobs!

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Imad Qureshi

Aug 22, 2018 12:45am

@Jawad Arshad BBC is funded by state.

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Lahori kid

Aug 22, 2018 02:24am

@Akber. I agree, but that goes without saying, just because the media will have the freedom and the independence over the content, they will still have guidelines, the media will still have to show no bias in reporting, the only reason I read the DAWN.

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Abdul

Aug 22, 2018 03:08am

For public consumption,no civilian Minister in Pakistan has the authority to curb or free editorial freedom to state or private media.That's the domain of the deep state.

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Siur

Aug 22, 2018 03:43am

First big mistake and probably their biggest.

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Mubaschir Inayet

Aug 22, 2018 07:23am

About time!! In Canada and UK, state media is free to criticize the government in power.

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N Abidi

Aug 22, 2018 08:43am

Still accountability in journalism on news media is needed! There is work needs to be done by ethical people!

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Amit Joshi

Aug 22, 2018 08:50am

What a BOLD move! Hats off

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Aug 22, 2018 09:11am

I was hoping for this

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Alcadius

Aug 22, 2018 02:00pm

@Jawad Arshad They're talking about media run by the government, i.e. PTV and Radio Pakistan. Private media like Geo and ARY etc., theoretically speaking, are not constrained in the first place.

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