Censorship in Pakistan

The Pakistani Constitution limits Censorship in Pakistan, but allows "reasonable restrictions in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of Pakistan or public order or morality". Press freedom in Pakistan is limited by official censorship that restricts critical reporting and by the high level of violence against journalists. The armed forces, the judiciary, and religion are topics that frequently attract the government's attention.

The OpenNet Initiative listed Internet filtering in Pakistan as substantial in the social and conflict/security areas, as selective in the Internet tools area, and as suspected in the political area in December 2010. In 2019, The National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecom was informed by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) that 900,000 URLs were blocked in Pakistan for "reasons such as carrying blasphemous and pornographic content and/or sentiments against the state, judiciary or the armed forces."

In July 2025, an Islamabad court banned 27 YouTube channels for allegedly spreading “anti-state” and “false” content. The move, widely criticized as a crackdown on dissent, targeted independent journalists like Matiullah Jan, Ahmad Noorani, Asad Ali Toor, Moeed Pirzada, and Imran Riaz Khan many known for criticizing the military and establishment.

Journalist Arzoo Kazmi, whose channel was also banned, called it an attempt to silence Imran Khan supporters, despite not being one herself. Critics see the ban as part of a broader effort by the Pakistani government and military to suppress opposition voices and restrict freedom of speech, particularly online, as mainstream media faces increasing control.