Pakistan imposes new reporting rules for international media

Pakistani authorities have imposed new restrictions on international media reporting in Pakistan. Under the 'Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines, 2026,' anyone working for foreign media, including Pakistani nationals, must seek permission to report from any location except the cities of Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore.

The Pakistani government stated that the guidelines, issued on Sunday, are intended to 'provide an administrative mechanism' to verify media, facilitate access, and coordinate reporting requirements. The government denies that the new rules constitute a blanket restriction on the movement of journalists or constrict media.

The guidelines state that journalists can lose their accreditation for 'acts against ideology, sovereignty, security or public order of Pakistan.' While the rules require a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for travel outside the three major cities, they do not specify how long it takes to obtain one.

Criticism from journalists and legal experts

Zaffar Abbas, editor of Dawn newspaper, called the restrictions 'ridiculous' and 'totally unacceptable,' stating that requiring an NOC to travel outside the three major cities 'not just undermines freedom of movement but also freedom of the press.'

Nasir Zaidi, a senior journalist and former general secretary at the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, said that international media has been objectively reporting on protest movements, crackdowns on opposition parties, and the repressive political situation in Pakistan.

Political commentator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said the guidelines are 'tantamount to choking international media in an increasingly shrinking space.' He also stated that placing restrictions on international media 'simply creates more room for disinformation and spread of fake news.'

Salhuddin Ahmed, a Supreme Court lawyer, stated that the guidelines are 'merely an executive order and lack any legal backing from statute.'

Regional enforcement and access issues

The Pakistani government's External Publicity wing sent a WhatsApp message on Monday evening stating that anyone in Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PAK) must 'return back IMMEDIATELY' and apply for an NOC. This region has experienced two months of violent clashes between protesters and security officials, resulting in dozens of deaths.