- This year the World Day is celebrated under the motto “Forging a peaceful future.”
- The president warns about the misuse of AI, fake news and the risks of global media manipulation.
- PM highlights the role of journalism in informed society and public awareness.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safeguarding and promoting press freedom on World Press Freedom Day.
This year the day is celebrated under the motto “Forging a peaceful future.”
The President and Prime Minister emphasized the role of responsible journalism, truth and credible information in strengthening democracy, national unity and creating an enabling environment for press freedom.
In his message, President Zardari greeted media workers 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 highlights that peace depends on truth and truth depends on courageous journalism.
“At the same time, freedom comes with 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 referred to Pakistan’s unified response during Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos and praised 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 professionals.
He also urged citizens to reject falsehood and support credible journalism, and called on federal and provincial governments to ensure enabling laws and safe working conditions for journalists across the country.
Separately, Prime Minister Shebhaz paid tribute to journalists and media professionals across the world for their services and stated that journalism plays a vital role in building an informed society.
He stressed that authentic, impartial and verified information is the basis of journalism, while urging media professionals to avoid the spread of propaganda, fake news and unverified content.
He said responsible journalism contributes to peace by forming an informed public opinion and strengthening international understanding.
He also recognized the sacrifices of journalists who lost their lives in the line of duty and emphasized 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 uphold verification, integrity and professional ethics, reaffirming the government’s commitment to ensuring a safe and conducive environment for press freedom.
He further said that the media can play a constructive role in strengthening international relations, economic cooperation and social harmony, emphasizing that while speed is important in the digital age, it should never come at the cost of accuracy and verification, as public trust remains journalism’s most valuable asset.
