A Climate of Silence: Structural Barriers to Climate Change Reporting in Pakistani Media

Farah Irshad, Shahzad Ali — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Climate change reporting in Pakistan faces multiple structural, institutional, and functional constraints that limit thematic and solution-oriented coverage. This qualitative study examines the factors that shape climate change narratives in Pakistani media. To understand the underreporting of climate change events and the limited use of solution-based frames, this study applies agenda-setting, framing, and political economy theories. To examine structural and institutional barriers to climate reporting, data were collected through in-depth interviews with twelve journalists, editors, and media gatekeepers from leading media outlets, including Geo News, ARY News, Express News, and SAMA TV. Using thematic analysis, the results identify seven key themes: media organizational structure, political economy influence, financial constraints, contributory negligence, information barriers, media agenda policies, and operational issues. The findings further reveal that climate coverage is largely eventbased, with climate issues receiving attention mainly during disasters such as floods and smog. The study finds that climate journalism in Pakistan is constrained by editorial agendas, financial limitations, and weak institutional support. To address these issues, the study recommends investing in journalist training, strengthening editorial independence, improving regulatory enforcement, and ensuring greater transparency from government agencies and NGOs.

The Intersection of Culture and Radicalism: Analyzing Disaffection, Norms, and Resistance

Muhammad Azam — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Radicalization in Pakistan has frequently taken center stage in national discussions and has raised serious concerns for the government and society. The goal of this study is to investigate the cultural elements that contribute to radicalization in Pakistan. This study employs a qualitative research design and both descriptive and analytical method for a contextual interpretation of cultural phenomena. Data collection relies on a dualtriangulation strategy incorporating both primary and secondary sources. A purposive sampling technique was applied to conduct interviews from the targeted population of academicians, researchers and policy analysts. Thematic analysis technique was used to scrutinize the data. The central thesis of the research is that intricate processes of cultural transformation are taking place in Pakistan and that the country’s culture is evolving. The processes of cultural transformation, political culture, folk culture, national and local cultures, and monoculture are analyzed in the paper. It is argued that one of the causes of radicalization has been Pakistan’s cultural realities. The main cultural factors of radicalization in Pakistan are the highly skewed educational system, the deeply divided and sectarian religious culture, and the wildly unequal economic culture.

ASIAN Journal of International Peace & Security (AJIPS)

A Climate of Silence: Structural Barriers to Climate Change Reporting in Pakistani Media

The Intersection of Culture and Radicalism: Analyzing Disaffection, Norms, and Resistance