The Freedom Network report highlights how security threats, economic fragility, and structural isolation have eroded the capacity of the press to function as a watchdog and public information provider.

Journalism in Pakistan’s largest and most restive province, Balochistan, is facing an unprecedented crisis, with press freedoms rapidly shrinking, media outlets collapsing, and journalists operating in a climate of pervasive intimidation and violence, according to a major new research report by the Freedom Network.

Titled “Journalism in Balochistan: State of Media Freedoms, Access to Information and Safety of Journalists and Media Professionals in Balochistan – Way Forward,” the study paints a stark picture of a media ecosystem under siege. Drawing on desk research, focus group discussions, and interviews with journalists and media stakeholders across the province, the report concludes that the space for independent journalism has all but disappeared.

A Constrained and Fragmenting Media Landscape

The Freedom Network report highlights how security threats, economic fragility, and structural isolation have eroded the capacity of the press to function as a watchdog and public information provider. Balochistan’s media, already peripheral to national narratives, now finds itself in an information vacuum that hinders democratic engagement and transparency.

While Pakistan’s broader electronic media expanded after the early 2000s, Balochistan’s media presence has lagged. National television channels and mainstream newspapers have steadily scaled back their bureaus in Quetta, leaving much of the province unreported. The report notes that outside the provincial capital, coverage is often sparse or non-existent. State-run Pakistan Television and Radio Pakistan operate mainly from urban centres, but their reach into remote rural areas is limited by both infrastructure and language barriers.

Balochistan remains one of the few regions in Pakistan without a privately owned terrestrial current affairs television channel, and print media – with more than 120 registered publications – sees only a handful regularly circulating beyond city limits due to the high costs of distribution, low literacy rates, and economic precarity.

Digital Divide and Shutdowns Deepen Information Gaps

The digital landscape, once seen as a lifeline for journalists covering far-flung areas, is also compromised. Balochistan’s internet penetration remains low – about 15 per cent compared with much higher national averages – and roughly 60 per cent of the province lacks fibre-optic connectivity. Prolonged internet shutdowns, sometimes lasting weeks or months, have become routine following security incidents, further isolating communities and journalists.

Journalists increasingly turn to social media and messaging platforms to report events and share information, but these tools bring their own risks. The report warns that such digital channels expose journalists to surveillance, content takedowns, and retaliation from state and non-state actors, without the institutional protections afforded by formal media outlets.

Threats from Multiple Actors: Militants, State and Tribal Elites

One of the most alarming aspects of the report is its documentation of threats and violence against journalists from a range of actors. Militants and separatist groups operate alongside security and intelligence agencies, political figures, tribal elites, and mobs, creating an environment where independent reporting is practically impossible.

Over the past two decades, 40 journalists have been killed in Balochistan, with most deaths resulting from targeted attacks and the remainder occurring during bombings and broader violence. Despite repeated assurances from authorities, not a single conviction has been recorded in these cases, underscoring a culture of impunity.

Journalists describe being caught between competing demands – militants insisting their statements be covered and security agencies pressuring reporters to assist with tracing callers. In such a milieu, self-censorship and enforced censorship have emerged as survival strategies more than editorial choices.

Economic Fragility and Media Closures

Economic pressures compound the risks. Regional outlets depend heavily on government advertising, which tends to be delayed or withheld, deepening financial insecurity. The pivot of advertising to digital platforms has squeezed print media further, leading to layoffs, salary arrears, and, in some cases, newsroom closures.

The absence of sustainable financing has left many media houses unable to invest in reporting beyond urban centres – a situation that reinforces the informational marginalization of remote districts struggling with insecurity and poverty.

Gendered Barriers in Journalism

The report also sheds light on gender disparities in Balochistan’s media. Female journalists remain a tiny minority, largely confined to assignments in Quetta. Numerous barriers – including limited mobility due to safety concerns, hostile field conditions, newsroom sexism, pay gaps, and lack of basic facilities such as safe transport and appropriate workspaces – restrict their participation and progression.

Editors often cite security risks as justification for excluding women from district reporting, inadvertently reinforcing stereotypes and shrinking the diversity of voices in news coverage. As a result, issues affecting women and girls often remain underreported.

Call for Structural Reforms and Protection Mechanisms

The Freedom Network report concludes with a call for comprehensive reforms aimed at reversing the decline of regional journalism. Key recommendations include sustainable financing for local media, stronger safety mechanisms for journalists, meaningful enforcement of right-to-information laws, and investment in digital infrastructure to bridge connectivity gaps.

Iqbal Khattak, Executive Director of Freedom Network, described the findings as a wake-up call for stakeholders: “Journalism is ‘lost’ in Balochistan,” he said, urging urgent action to protect media practitioners and secure citizens’ access to credible information.

Without decisive reforms, the report warns, the erosion of independent media will not only deepen informational marginalization but also weaken democratic accountability in a region already fraught with conflict and neglect.