Pervez Musharraf's rule ushered in increased freedom for the print media and a liberalisation of broadcasting policies. Towards the end of his time in office, however, media rules were tightened under emergency rule.
A coalition government, formed in early 2008, pledged to undo measures introduced by the former president.
Television is the dominant medium, and there are around 50 private channels. The overwhelming majority of viewers receive them via cable. There are no private, terrestrial stations.
More than 100 private FM radio stations have been licensed. They are not allowed to broadcast their own news programmes.
Scores of unlicensed FM stations are said to operate in the tribal areas of North-West Frontier Province. They are usually operated by clerics. Some of them are accused of fanning sectarian tension.
The government uses legal and constitutional powers to curb press freedom. Private TV news channels were closed under a state of emergency in late 2007, and the law on blasphemy has been used against journalists.
The broadcasting regulator can order a halt to the carriage of foreign TV channels via cable, particularly Indian or Afghan ones. This usually coincides with periods of tension between Pakistan and one or other of its neighbours.
Pakistan's press is among the most outspoken in South Asia, although its influence is limited by a literacy level of around 50%.
World telecoms body the ITU estimated in March 2008 that there were 17.5 million internet users. The authorities filter some websites. A growing number of bloggers write about politics.
Press
Daily Jang - Karachi-based, Urdu-language; largest-circulation daily
Dawn - Karachi-based, largest-circulation English-language daily
The Nation - Lahore-based, English-language daily
The Frontier Post - Peshawar-based, English-language
The News - English-language daily, published by Jang group
Daily Ausaf - Islamabad-based, Urdu-language
Daily Times - English-language, publishes in Lahore and Karachi
Pakistan Observer - Islamabad-based daily
Business Recorder - financial daily
Pakistan and Gulf Economist - business weekly
The Friday Times - Lahore-based weekly, English-language
Television
Pakistan Television Corporation Ltd - state TV, operates PTV Home, regional network PTV National, Baluchi-language PTV Bolan, PTV News
ATV - semi-private, terrestrial network
Geo TV - leading private satellite broadcaster, owned by Jang publishing group; based in Dubai; services include Urdu-language Geo News
Dawn News - private satellite broadcaster, owned by Herald group; first English-language news channel
Aaj TV - private satellite broadcaster, owned by Business Recorder group
Indus TV - private, via satellite; services include Indus Vision, Indus News and entertainment channels
ARY Digital - private, via satellite; services include ARY News and entertainment channels
Radio
Radio Pakistan - state-run, operates 25 stations nationwide, an external service and the entertainment-based FM 101 network, aimed at younger listeners
Azad Kashmir Radio - state-run service for Pakistani-administered Kashmir
Mast FM 103 - private, music-based
FM 100 - private, music-based
