The International Journalism Organization Reporters Without Border(RSF) has released a new report on the state of press freedom in 180 countries.

Pakistan has dropped in rank from 152nd to 158th in the Global Press Freedom Index. The report cites restrictions on press freedom as a key reason for this decline.

The report expresses concern over the growing threats to press freedom worldwide highlighting the increasing economic pressure on the media as a serious issue.

It points out that in about one third of countries including the United States(US) news outlets are shutting down due to financial difficulties. Authoritarian regimes are using economic pressure as a tool to control the media.

The index also raises concerns about media ownership in India stating that control is increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few political elites.

The report describes the situation in Palestine as catastrophic revealing that nearly 200 journalists have been killed by Israeli forces.