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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan marked World Press Freedom Day on Sunday with renewed official commitments to safeguarding journalists and strengthening responsible journalism, as the latest global press freedom rankings showed the country moving ahead of India in the annual index released by Reporters Without Borders. In its 2026 World Press Freedom Index, RSF ranked Pakistan at 153rd out of 180 countries, placing it four spots ahead of neighboring&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/india-drops-to-157th-as-press-freedom-crisis-deepens" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">India</a>, which slipped to 157th, down six places from last year. The annual index evaluates media freedom across political, legal, economic, socio-cultural and safety indicators. The latest ranking comes as Pakistan observes World Press Freedom Day under the global theme, &ldquo;Shaping a Future at Peace,&rdquo; with the country&rsquo;s top leadership reaffirming constitutional protections for free expression and pledging stronger safeguards for media professionals. President Asif Ali Zardari said press freedom remains central to democratic governance and national stability, stressing that peace and truth are deeply interconnected. &ldquo;Peace cannot be built without truth and in the modern world, truth depends on those who have the courage and integrity to seek it, verify it and bring it to light,&rdquo; the president said in his message issued on World Press Freedom Day.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2050651425542393981&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=691474fcacc5c602fd0b2390492c809d966e8b5c&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 825px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2050651425542393981"></iframe></div></div>He acknowledged the growing pressures facing journalists globally, including misinformation, disinformation, economic coercion and physical threats, while warning that digital platforms and artificial intelligence have intensified challenges to factual reporting. &#39;Firmly committed&#39; The president said Pakistan remained &ldquo;firmly committed&rdquo; to press freedom as both a constitutional guarantee and democratic necessity, citing Article 19 and Article 19-A of the Constitution as legal foundations protecting freedom of expression and the public&rsquo;s right to information. &ldquo;A free, independent and diverse media is not a threat to a confident nation, rather a proof of one,&rdquo; he said. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in his separate message, described journalists as &ldquo;custodians of professional standards&rdquo; and called for stronger resistance against propaganda and fake news in an increasingly fast-moving digital environment. &ldquo;Timely dissemination of accurate, impartial, and unbiased information remains the cornerstone of credible journalism,&rdquo; the prime minister said.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2050787838963089845&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=691474fcacc5c602fd0b2390492c809d966e8b5c&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 945px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2050787838963089845"></iframe></div></div>He said responsible journalism remains essential for peacebuilding, informed public discourse and democratic accountability, adding that media professionals must be allowed to work in a secure and dignified environment. Both the president and prime minister also linked responsible journalism to Pakistan&rsquo;s national resilience, particularly during periods of conflict and disinformation campaigns. Countering misinformation Referring to the 2025 Pakistan-India military confrontation and &ldquo;Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos,&rdquo; President Zardari said Pakistan&rsquo;s media had played a critical role in countering misinformation and preserving national cohesion. &ldquo;It responded not with force, but with facts. Not with noise, but with clarity,&rdquo; he said. PM Sharif similarly praised the national media&rsquo;s role during critical moments, including &ldquo;Marka-e-Haq&rdquo; and &ldquo;Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos,&rdquo; saying journalists helped maintain public awareness and national unity. The RSF report noted that India&rsquo;s decline was linked to the &ldquo;increasing use of national security laws&rdquo; and growing legal pressure on journalists, creating a more difficult environment for media workers. While Pakistan&rsquo;s position remains in the lower tier of the global rankings, officials said the comparative improvement reflects continued progress in strengthening media freedoms while maintaining professional standards. Tribute to journalists&nbsp; Both leaders paid tribute to journalists who lost their lives in pursuit of truth, particularly in conflict zones, and called for stronger protections and ethical standards across the profession. &ldquo;Public trust, the most valuable asset of free press, must be earned, protected and never taken for granted,&rdquo; President Zardari said. PM Sharif reaffirmed that the government would continue to support media freedom and institutional reforms aimed at ensuring a safe, responsible and independent press. &ldquo;The government will continue to play its role in this regard, enabling the media to fulfil its responsibilities with truth and integrity,&rdquo; he said.

Culture

 In its 2026 World Press Freedom Index, RSF ranks Pakistan 153rd out of 180 countries, four places ahead of India at 157th, as Pakistan’s leadership reaffirms commitment to press freedom and journalist protection.

Pakistan reaffirms press freedom commitment as global rankings improve

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari&nbsp;presided over the commissioning of Pakistan Navy&rsquo;s first Hangor-class submarine at a ceremony in China,&nbsp;marking a major milestone in the country&rsquo;s naval modernization and defense capabilities. The commissioning ceremony of PNS/M Hangor was held in Sanya, China, said a press release issued by Pakistan&#39;s military media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), on Thursday. The president graced the occasion as the chief guest; Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, was also present.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2049751695882866954&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=23264f8a27cf403d3f3388e07ebb952ffab9bb6f&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 568px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> President Zardari described the commissioning of Hangor as a historic milestone in Pakistan Navy&#39;s modernization, affirming Pakistan&#39;s resolve to maintain a robust, balanced and credible defense posture.&nbsp; He said that Pakistan is fully capable of defending its sovereignty, protecting its maritime interests and ensuring the security of its economic lifelines. Need for&nbsp;technologically advanced forcesAdmiral Naveed Ashraf&nbsp;highlighted that disruptions at critical maritime chokepoints increasingly threaten global trade and energy security, and that maintaining a stable, rule-based maritime order demands technologically advanced naval forces.&nbsp; He said that Hangor-class submarines -- armed with state-of-the-art weapons, advanced sensors and air-independent propulsion -- will be key in preserving maritime order and stability in the region.&nbsp; These submarines will play a pivotal role in deterring aggression and ensuring the security of vital Sea Lines of Communication across the Arabian Sea and the wider Indian Ocean region. The naval chief reiterated that the name Hangor holds a significant place in our national history. In 1971, earlier Hangor became the first submarine since World War II to sink a warship.&nbsp; PNS/M Hangor will carry this illustrious legacy forward, as this is an important milestone for Pakistan Navy that will bolster our maritime defense and modernize our fleet with cutting-edge technology. The commissioning of the 1st Hangor-class submarine marks another chapter in the time-tested and enriching friendship between Pakistan and China.&nbsp; The ceremony was attended by senior officials from the Pakistan Navy and the PLA (Navy). Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces, Field Marshal Asim Munir, congratulated the nation and the Pakistan Navy on achieving this historic milestone.

Security

President Zardari describes the commissioning as a historic milestone in Pakistan Navy's modernization; affirms Islamabad's resolve to maintaining a robust, balanced and credible defense posture.

Pakistan commissions first Hangor-class submarine at historic ceremony in China

ISLAMABAD: In a major boost for Pakistani hockey, the national team has qualified for the Hockey World Cup, ending an eight-year wait to return to the prestigious global tournament. Pakistan put up an impressive performance to edge Japan 4-3 in the semi-final of the FIH Hockey World Cup qualifier at the Suez Canal Authority Hockey Stadium in Egypt on Friday. The President emphasized need to promote sports such as hockey and football, stating that these are the games of working class and ordinary people, and they should be further developed across the country. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also congratulated the national side, praising the players for their commitment and resilience. He advised the team to continue working hard and maintain the same level of dedication and determination as they prepare for the tournament. Pakistan&rsquo;s qualification marks a significant moment for the country&rsquo;s hockey revival, rekindling hopes among fans that the national team can restore its historic success.&nbsp;

Hockey

PM Sharif and President Zardari praise Pakistan’s national hockey team after their qualification, calling it a major step toward reviving the country’s historic success in hockey and urging continued dedication.

Pakistan seal Hockey World Cup spot with 4-3 win over Japan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday warned Afghanistan&rsquo;s interim government to dismantle&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/armed-forces-ready-to-defend-pakistans-sovereignty-field-marshal-munir" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">terrorist groups</a>&nbsp;operating from their territory, saying Pakistan will not tolerate cross-border attacks and &ldquo;will respond decisively&rdquo; to any aggression. Addressing a joint sitting of Parliament, Zardari said Pakistan had exercised restraint but acted firmly when its sovereignty was challenged. Cross-border attacks The president said the past 10 months&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/no-dialogue-pakistan-says-terrorism-from-afghanistan-must-end" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">tested the country</a>&nbsp;in &ldquo;profound and complex ways.&rdquo; He said that when confronted with attacks on its borders, Pakistan responded with &ldquo;strategic restraint and firm resolve.&rdquo; On the western border, he said, security forces acted quickly after an increase in attacks on Feb. 26 by the Taliban regime. &ldquo;Our security forces acted decisively to signal zero tolerance for any incursions into our sovereign territory,&rdquo; he said. He stated that the political leadership stood united and the people of Pakistan &ldquo;resolute.&rdquo; Warning to Kabul Zardari said Pakistan had tried &ldquo;every possible form of diplomacy&rdquo; to prevent escalation after terrorist incursions from Afghan territory. But he warned that patience has limits. &ldquo;The Taliban regime saw with shock and awe what Pakistan could do if pushed past the red line,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We let both India and Afghanistan see a fraction of our capability.&rdquo; He cited Article 51 of the UN Charter, which he said gives Pakistan the right to defend its sovereignty. He said Pakistan would not allow any entity to use neighboring territory to destabilize its peace. President Zardari said that despite repeated diplomatic engagements, the Afghan de facto regime continues to provide safe havens to groups including Al-Qaeda, <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-urges-unsc-to-designate-bla-as-terrorist-group" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Balochistan Liberation Army</a> (BLA) and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Commitments made in Doha to prevent such activity, he said, had been ignored. &ldquo;They must choose to dismantle the terrorist groups that survive on conflict and its war economy,&rdquo; he said, urging Afghanistan&rsquo;s rulers not to allow their country to be used as a battlefield for other powers. Broader security message The president said the past year tested Pakistan in &ldquo;profound and complex ways.&rdquo; He said the country responded with &ldquo;strategic restraint and firm resolve&rdquo; when its sovereignty was challenged. He praised the armed forces for successful operations on both eastern and western borders and said the political leadership and the public stood united. &ldquo;The soil of Pakistan is sacred,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We will not allow any entity, domestic or foreign, to destabilize our peace.&rdquo; Regional and global stance Zardari condemned the war on Iran while negotiations were underway, saying the attacks undermined peace. He said Pakistan supports Iran&rsquo;s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The president described ties with China as having reached new heights and thanked&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/president-xi-says-china-to-hit-2025-growth-target-of-around-5" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">President Xi Jinping</a>&nbsp;for solidarity and cooperation. Economy and federation President Zardari linked&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-defies-panic-as-foreign-investment-continues-to-rise" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">economic stability</a>&nbsp;to national security. He said the government had steered the country away from economic collapse in 2022 and restored stability to key indicators. He called for inclusive growth, structural reforms and transparency in taxation. He also focused on energy reform, climate resilience, agricultural stability and equitable resource distribution among provinces. &ldquo;A strong federation does not require centralization,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It requires coordination and constitutional governance.&rdquo;

Foreign Affairs

Says Pakistan has exercised restraint but acted firmly against cross-border attacks; criticizes Afghan Taliban for harboring militants, and warns that continued safe havens for groups like TTP, BLA, and al-Qaida would provoke a decisive response.

Articles tagged with "Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari"

Pakistan reaffirms press freedom commitment as global rankings improve

Pakistan commissions first Hangor-class submarine at historic ceremony in China

Pakistan seal Hockey World Cup spot with 4-3 win over Japan

President Zardari warns Afghanistan over militant sanctuaries, says Pakistan ready to act