By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD - Increasing restrictions on traditional media and growing public demand for timely, independent news are driving more Pakistanis away from television channels and towards social media platforms, where information is shared almost instantly.

Official figures from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) reflect the growing popularity of digital platforms, particularly YouTube, TikTok and WhatsApp, as millions of Pakistanis increasingly rely on them to stay informed, a UK based media outlet Pak Today reported. 

PTA Chairman Major General (retd) Hafeez Ur Rehman told the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Information Technology that 96 million Pakistanis use YouTube, while the country has 100 million TikTok accounts and around 150 million people watch videos on the platform.

He said Pakistanis watch 560 million videos on YouTube daily, making the country one of the world's leading markets for YouTube video consumption. Pakistan also has around 100 million WhatsApp accounts, he added.

The shift comes amid growing concerns about restrictions on traditional media, particularly television channels, which critics say have limited their coverage of opposition political figures and dissenting voices.

Several Pakistani journalists have acknowledged facing restrictions on mentioning former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who remains at the centre of a prolonged political confrontation with the country's powerful military establishment.

The restrictions have contributed to a perception among some viewers that mainstream television news increasingly reflects official narratives rather than independently scrutinising political developments.

Kaleem Afzal, a resident of Islamabad, said he relied more on social media because it provided faster access to news and a wider range of perspectives.

"Media in Pakistan is not free. You rarely get factual, independent reporting. Instead, there is a lot of propaganda and coverage targeting political opponents," he said.

Afzal said state-run media largely focused on the daily activities of government officials, while private television channels had increasingly adopted a similar approach.

"Why should I watch media that does not provide the news I am interested in?" he said.

Hasan Nasir, from the northwestern district of Lower Dir, said he had not watched a Pakistani television channel or its news bulletin in four years.

He said Facebook and X had become his primary sources of daily news, while YouTube allowed him to follow independent journalists and political analysts.

The growing popularity of YouTube has also transformed the way journalists work in Pakistan. Many have established their own channels, publishing daily video commentaries and reports on issues they say they cannot freely discuss through their employers.

For some journalists, YouTube has also become an important source of income, providing financial incentives to build independent audiences.

The migration to social media, however, brings its own challenges. While digital platforms offer access to diverse viewpoints and information that may be absent from mainstream coverage, they also facilitate the rapid spread of misinformation, unverified claims and political propaganda.

As Pakistan's media landscape continues to evolve, the growing reliance on social media highlights both the public's demand for more independent journalism and the challenges of ensuring reliable information in an increasingly fragmented news environment.