The yearly report issued by the media rights group Freedom Network ranked the capital Islamabad as the riskiest city for media workers, with 56 incidents affecting journalists and news organizations.

The most populous central province of Punjab remained the second-most dangerous place for journalists with 35 incidents, said the report that covers the period between May 2022 until March 2023.

“At least five journalists were killed during this period,” said Iqbal Khattak, who co-authored the report.

“The escalation in violence against journalists is disturbing and demands urgent attention.”

The report said the violence, especially in cyber space, prevents people from accessing information and exacerbates the problem of fake news in Pakistan, a nuclear-armed nation grappling with political and economic problems alongside regional conflicts.

Alongside the country’s powerful spy agencies and military, media workers also face threats from other entities such as extremist Islamist groups and political parties.

“These new players have added to the danger,” said Afzal Butt, head of Pakistan’s Federal Union of Journalists, the largest association for media professionals.

Pakistan stood at 157 among the 180 countries in the Reporters Without Borders’ annual Press Freedom Index for 2022.

“We fear the ranking will stoop even lower this year,” said Butt, ahead of International Press Freedom Day, marked on May 3.