Dawn to Shut Down Urdu Website Amid Deepening Financial Strain; 12 Employees to Lose Jobs

The Dawn Media Group has decided to close its Dawn News Urdu website by December 2025, a move that highlights the severe financial pressures facing one of Pakistan’s oldest and most reputable media organisations. The shutdown will result in the layoffs of all 12 employees currently working for the Urdu platform.

The development was confirmed to Independent Urdu by Farhan Muhammad Khan, Editor Dawn Urdu Digital and head of the Urdu website. Khan said the management informed employees of the decision three days ago and issued them a one-month termination notice. Staff members were given two options: resign immediately or continue working until the completion of their notice period.

Cause of Closure: Persistent Revenue Decline

According to Khan, the management attributed the closure to a sustained and significant decline in the media group’s revenue. The organisation has been confronting financial instability for several months, driven by shrinking advertising inflows and economic challenges affecting the wider media industry.

Industry observers have long pointed to the declining availability of both government and private-sector advertisements—sources that traditionally form a major portion of revenue for Pakistani news organisations.

Government Ads Withheld for Months

The Dawn Media Group had previously warned of mounting financial stress. In an editorial published in March 2025, the group disclosed that both the federal government and the Punjab provincial government had withheld official advertisements for more than five months. This withdrawal of state advertising, which remains an important revenue source for many media outlets, placed further pressure on the organisation’s already strained financial structure.

RMNP and other media rights groups at the time criticised the withholding of official ads, arguing that the practice is frequently used as a tool to pressure or influence news organisations.

Impact on Employees

The decision has left 12 staff members facing unemployment at the end of their notice period. The affected employees include content writers, editors, producers, and technical staff who form the backbone of the Urdu digital operation.

Khan described the situation as “deeply unfortunate” but said the management had conveyed that the step was unavoidable due to financial realities.

Significance for Pakistan’s Media Landscape

The closure of Dawn’s Urdu website is being viewed as a major setback for Urdu digital journalism in Pakistan, where audiences increasingly rely on online platforms for news and analysis. Dawn Urdu was widely regarded for its editorial standards, professional reporting, and credibility—qualities that distinguished it within the Urdu digital media sector.

Media experts fear that the shutdown may signal broader challenges ahead for news organisations across the country as economic pressures, reduced advertising, and rising operational costs continue to squeeze media houses.

Background: Dawn’s Legacy Under Pressure

The Dawn Media Group, founded by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in 1941, has long been considered Pakistan’s most influential and respected media institution. However, like many traditional media organisations globally, it has struggled to adapt to the digital transition in an environment where revenue from online platforms remains limited.

The closure of its Urdu website marks one of the most significant cutbacks the group has made in recent years.

Source: RMNP