- Day celebrated this year under the theme “Shaping a peaceful future”.
- The president warns of the misuse of AI, fake news and the risks of global media manipulation.
- The Prime Minister highlights the role of journalism in an informed society and in raising public awareness.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safeguarding and promoting press freedom on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day.
The day is celebrated this year under the theme “Shaping a peaceful future”.
The President and Prime Minister highlighted the role of responsible journalism, truth and credible information in strengthening democracy, national unity and creating an environment conducive to media freedom.
In his message, President Zardari extended greetings to media professionals around the world and warned of growing global threats to press freedom, including disinformation, misuse of artificial intelligence, algorithmic manipulation and pressure from powerful technology platforms and social media companies.
He said such forces can distort public discourse and weaken democratic values. Reaffirming the constitutional commitment under Articles 19 and 19-A, he said a free press is essential for accountability, transparency and democracy.
The president said this year’s theme emphasizes that peace depends on the truth, and the truth depends on courageous journalism.
“At the same time, with freedom comes responsibility. Accuracy must not be sacrificed for speed and balance must not give way to partisanship. Public trust, the most valuable asset of the free press, must be earned, protected and never taken for granted,” he added.
He also spoke about Pakistan’s unified response during Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos, praising the media for countering false narratives and maintaining national cohesion. The President also paid tribute to journalists who sacrificed their lives in pursuit of the truth and called for stronger protections and safer working conditions for media workers.
He also urged citizens to reject lies and support credible journalism, and called on the federal and provincial governments to ensure enabling laws and safe working conditions for journalists across the country.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Chebhaz paid tribute to journalists and media professionals around the world for their services, saying journalism plays a vital role in building an informed society.
He stressed that authentic, impartial and verified reporting is the foundation of journalism, while urging media professionals to prevent the spread of propaganda, fake news and unverified content.
He said responsible journalism contributes to peace by shaping informed public opinion and strengthening international understanding.
He also recognized the sacrifices of journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty and stressed the importance of adapting to digital transformation while maintaining credibility.
Warning against the rise of fake news and disinformation campaigns, he called on journalists to demonstrate verification, integrity and professional ethics, reaffirming the government’s commitment to ensuring a safe and conducive environment for press freedom.
He added that media can play a constructive role in strengthening international relations, economic cooperation and societal harmony, and stressed that while speed is important in the digital age, it should never come at the expense of accuracy and verification, as public trust remains journalism’s most valuable asset.
