Pakistan's newspapers: English and Urdu dailies, news channels

The Pakistani press combines English-language dailies such as Dawn and The Express Tribune, major Urdu titles such as Jang and Nawa-i-Waqt, news channels such as Geo News and ARY, and the APP agency, nearly all available online.

Dawn, Jang and the birth of Pakistan

Dawn, founded in Delhi in 1941 by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, moved to Karachi in 1947. Jang, launched in 1939, and Nawa-i-Waqt, created in Lahore in 1940, also supported the Pakistan movement before becoming pillars of the national press.

What do the major national dailies stand for?

Dawn is the liberal, moderate reference in English. The Jang group also publishes The News International, while The Express Tribune, launched in 2010, targets urban readers. Nawa-i-Waqt and The Nation defend a more conservative and nationalist line.

Urdu and English, plus Sindhi and Pashto

Urdu, the national language, carries the most widely read titles, while English, the official language, dominates among decision-makers. The Sindhi press, with Kawish in Hyderabad, and media in Pashto or Punjabi serve provincial audiences across the country.

Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar: the provincial press

Karachi, the economic capital, and Lahore, the political heart of Punjab, host most newsrooms. The Peshawar and Quetta editions cover Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, regions where journalists' work is often more difficult and more dangerous.

Geo, ARY and UrduPoint on smartphones

The Geo News, ARY News, Samaa and Dunya News channels have heavily used websites and apps. UrduPoint aggregates news and practical services, and information circulates widely on YouTube, Facebook and WhatsApp, sometimes without any verification.

APP, the national news agency

The Associated Press of Pakistan, created in 1947, is the public agency responsible for government wire stories in English and Urdu. Private agencies such as Online and NNI complete the offer, but APP remains the reference for official announcements from Islamabad.

PTV, Radio Pakistan and the boom in private channels

Pakistan Television and Radio Pakistan make up public broadcasting. The opening to private channels in the early 2000s gave rise to Geo, ARY and Samaa, under the control of the PEMRA regulator, which issues licences and can suspend programmes.

Following the Pakistani diaspora media

Pakistanis in the United Kingdom, the United States and the Gulf follow Jang, which publishes a London edition, as well as Geo and ARY, broadcast by satellite. The major dailies also run sections for expatriate workers and remittances.

Business Recorder and the passion for cricket

Business Recorder, founded in Karachi in 1965, is the leading business daily, followed for the Karachi stock exchange, the budget and agreements with the IMF. Sport is dominated by cricket, covered around the clock by PTV Sports and the sports pages.

Pressure on journalists and regulation

Pakistani newsrooms work under several pressures: suspensions ordered by PEMRA, social media shutdowns, abductions and violence against journalists. Military and security topics are especially sensitive, notably in Balochistan and the tribal areas near the Afghan border.

Paywalls, e-papers and French-language resources

Dawn and The Express Tribune remain largely free, with e-papers online. There is no Pakistani press in French, but the page on the press of the Asian continent and the Islamic press online offer other entry points.

Cross-checking sources with India and Afghanistan

On Kashmir, the Afghan border or the waters of the Indus, comparing Dawn with the Indian press or the Afghan press reveals often opposing narratives and helps identify the facts genuinely shared by both sides.

How to follow Pakistani news from abroad

1. Read Dawn every morning for the core political, economic and international news in English.
2. Add The Express Tribune or The News International to compare how the same event is covered.
3. Check APP wire stories for official statements, appointments and government decisions.
4. Watch Geo News or ARY News live online during elections, political crises or big matches.
5. Browse Jang or Nawa-i-Waqt in Urdu, with a translation tool, to capture the tone of the popular press.
6. Allow for Pakistan time, UTC+5, and check the date of videos shared on social media.

Access and subscriptions for Pakistani media

Key facts for reading the press of Pakistan

• Languages: Urdu and English; Sindhi, Pashto and Punjabi in the provinces
• National agency: Associated Press of Pakistan (APP)
• Public broadcasting: Pakistan Television (PTV) and Radio Pakistan
• Reference daily: Dawn; business: Business Recorder
• Broadcast regulator: PEMRA
• Time zone: PKT, UTC+5; currency: Pakistani rupee (PKR)

Pitfalls to avoid with Pakistani media

• Confusing The Nation of Lahore with a Nigerian daily of the same name, or with other titles bearing that name worldwide.
• Sharing viral videos posted on YouTube or WhatsApp during political crises without checking their origin or date.
• Taking a TV talk show for verified news, when such programmes often favour controversy and opinion.
• Overlooking that a site may be unreachable in Pakistan during shutdowns ordered by the authorities, which delays updates.
• Treating APP wire stories as independent, when they primarily relay Islamabad's official communication.

Your questions about Pakistani newspapers