Media assets

Radio: News & Current Affairs Channel 24/7, FM 101, FM 93, Dhanak FM 94

State Media Matrix Typology

State-Controlled (SC)

Ownership and governance

PBC was established under the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation Act of 1973 as a limited liability entity, wholly owned by the federal government. It operates under the administrative control of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Governance is vested in the PBC Board, which is entirely comprised of government-appointed members. In the past, the board included 11 members. A Presidential Ordinance in 2024, further supported by the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (Amendment) Bill 2024, expanded the PBC Board to 18 members. The new composition includes eleven independent directors, largely from the private sector, and seven ex-officio members. These ex-officio members include: The Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting & National Heritage; an additional Foreign Secretary; an additional Secretary Finance, the Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), which is the official media and public relations wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces, the managing Director of the Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV), the Director General of PBC, and a representative of the Interior Division.

As per the updated law, the appointment of the Director General (DG) of PBC is now handled by the federal government, based on the board’s recommendation, making the board more influential in PBC governance than before. The current Director General, Saeed Ahmed Shaikh has been serving in this role as of August 2024.

In June 2024, the Ministry submitted a proposal to designate PBC as a “strategic state-owned enterprise.” The proposal included a clause enabling future privatization, raising concerns among public interest advocates and employees alike regarding editorial independence and access to non-commercial broadcasting.

In June–July 2025, the Cabinet Committee on State‑Owned Enterprises (CCoSOEs), under the Ministry of Finance, approved the appointment of six independent directors to the PBC Board. These include Sadia Khan, Jehangir Khan, Sadiqa Sultan, Nasira Azim Khan, Khan Bibi, and Nadeem Haider Kiyani. These appointments signal a modest shift towards diversifying governance beyond traditional government representatives.

Source of funding and budget

Historically, PBC has relied almost entirely on federal subsidies to sustain its operations. In 2018, its budget stood at PKR 5.5 billion (approximately US$34.5 million), with over 94% of funding derived from government grants and the remainder from commercial advertising. However, persistent fiscal challenges led to sweeping layoffs in 2020, affecting hundreds of employees.

To ensure a more sustainable funding model, a license fee mechanism was introduced in July 2023. This fee is embedded in the national electricity bill, mandating a monthly contribution of PKR 50 (approx. US$0.17) from households, of which PKR 15 is earmarked for radio operations.

For the fiscal year 2022–2023, PBC received a separate allocation of PKR 562.8 million (approx. US$2.34 million) for special projects. Despite this, budgetary shortfalls continue to constrain modernization and expansion efforts, particularly in regional outreach and digital transformation.

In FY 2025, PBC was allocated a total of PKR 6.413 billion, of which PKR 6.183 billion had been disbursed as of March 2025. Simultaneously, PBC’s financial performance during the first semester of FY 2025 showed persistent shortfalls in revenue generation—particularly in advertising and leasing revenues—despite new commercial strategies. Receivables and cash collections remain well below targets, putting significant pressure on PBC’s financial health.

Editorial independence

PBC has long operated under significant state influence, with its editorial line closely aligned with government positions and subject to de facto censorship, particularly in areas deemed sensitive by the military or civilian authorities.

Although the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government initially pledged reforms to enhance freedom of expression following the 2018 general elections—including relaxing editorial oversight at public broadcasters—these efforts were short-lived. Media freedom advocates report that state interference has intensified in subsequent years, coinciding with a general backslide in press freedom indicators across the country.

No legal safeguards or independent regulatory frameworks are currently in place to guarantee the editorial autonomy of PBC. Nor does any domestic law mandate independent audits or public accountability mechanisms to assess its compliance with public service media standards.

July 2025

Media assets

Television: PTV News, PTV Home, PTV Sports, PTV World, PTV National, AJK TV, PTV Bolan, PTV Global, PTV Parliament

State Media Matrix Typology

Captured Public/State-Managed (CaPu)

Ownership and governance

PTV is registered as a limited liability company wholly owned by the Government of Pakistan. Operationally, it falls under the purview of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, mirroring the governance framework of the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC).

The corporation is overseen by a government-appointed Board of Directors, which serves as its highest decision-making body. The Managing Director (MD) of PTV is likewise appointed by the federal government, reinforcing the broadcaster’s close institutional linkage to state structures.

PTV’s supreme governing structure is its board of directors that is appointed by the Federal Government. The Managing Director of PTV is also appointed by the government.

As of May 2025, the federal government extended an additional charge of Managing Director (MD) of PTVC—held by Ambreen Jan, Secretary of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting—for a further three months, pending appointment of a permanent MD.

Source of funding and budget

PTV’s primary funding stream derives from a license fee levied on electricity bills, a mechanism that generated over 71% of its budget in 2019, when its total expenditure stood at PKR 11.1 billion (approx. US$ 61.9 million at the time). This model is intended to provide a buffer against overt governmental influence by ensuring a degree of financial autonomy; however, in practice, the broadcaster remains financially dependent on state allocations and directives.

In 2020, the monthly license fee was raised from PKR 35 to PKR 60 (US$ 0.20 to US$ 0.35), a move aimed at shoring up the broadcaster’s revenues. That same year, advertising revenues hit an all-time high of PKR 1.3 billion, indicating a modest commercial uptick. Nevertheless, PTV’s liabilities reached PKR 19.41 billion, highlighting deep structural financial challenges.

For the 2022 fiscal year, government budgetary support stood at PKR 700 million (approximately US$ 4.1 million). Specific figures for the 2024–25 fiscal year budget for PTVC have not been publicly disclosed as of mid‑2025.

Editorial independence

PTV’s editorial posture remains closely aligned with that of PBC, reflecting Pakistan’s long-standing tradition of tight state control over public media. For decades, PTV has been perceived as a government mouthpiece, and despite occasional rhetoric in favour of reform, little progress has been made.

A brief wave of optimism followed Prime Minister Imran Khan’s 2018 pledge to roll back censorship across state media. However, this initiative failed to translate into tangible change. PTV continues to operate primarily as a vehicle for disseminating official narratives, with editorial decisions often reflecting government priorities.

As of 2025, there is no legislation safeguarding editorial independence at PTV, nor does any independent oversight mechanism exist to monitor or verify its editorial autonomy. Local experts and journalists interviewed for this report in March 2023, June 2024 and May 2025 confirmed that the broadcaster remains effectively tethered to state interests, with limited room for dissenting or critical perspectives.

July 2025

Media assets

News agency: APP

State Media Matrix Typology

State-Controlled (SC)

Ownership and governance

APP is wholly owned by the Government of Pakistan and functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. In 2002, APP was converted into a corporate entity known as the Associated Press of Pakistan Corporation. Despite this nominal corporatization, its operations and leadership remain firmly tethered to the state.

The agency’s top executive—the Managing Director—is directly appointed by the government, typically from within the ranks of serving bureaucrats. For instance, in March 2023, Muhammad Asim was appointed Managing Director while simultaneously holding the post of Head of the Cyber Wing at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, a dual role that underscores the close institutional ties between APP and the state apparatus.

Source of funding and budget

According to insights gathered from Pakistani media professionals and analysts during field interviews conducted in March 2023, June 2024 and July 2025, APP operates on a shoestring budget relative to other state media organisations. Experts estimate that APP’s budget is over ten times smaller than that of the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC), another major state media entity.

Although APP generates modest revenue through the sale of content subscriptions—primarily to public institutions and select media outlets—these commercial activities cover only a fraction of its expenditures. Local estimates suggest that close to 70% of its annual operating budget is covered by government subsidies.

Editorial independence

APP functions not as an independent journalistic body but as an arm of the state’s communication machinery. Editorial directives are centrally controlled through the Managing Director, whose dual role as a government official further blurs the line between public information and political messaging.

The agency refrains from publishing critical or adversarial content about the government and primarily acts as a conduit for official statements, press releases, and narratives aligned with the sitting administration. Interviews with local journalists and observers confirm that APP’s editorial stance consistently echoes government priorities, with little room for dissenting perspectives or journalistic scrutiny.

As of June 2025, there remains no domestic legislation to safeguard APP’s editorial independence, nor does any external regulatory or oversight mechanism exist to evaluate or enforce such independence. The absence of a public service remit or independent governance structure renders the agency vulnerable to political interference and instrumentalisation.

July 2025

Overview

Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) is Pakistan’s public service media company. It started as Radio Pakistan in 1947 and was renamed Pakistan BroadcastinG Corporation in 1972. Its airs in 21 local languages.

State Media Matrix Model