Islamabad: Pakistan has introduced new rules that place tighter controls on how international media organisations report from across the country, prompting strong criticism from journalists, editors and press freedom advocates who fear the move will make independent reporting far more difficult.
Under the newly issued Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines 2026, journalists working for foreign news organisations, including Pakistani nationals employed by international media outlets, must now obtain official permission before reporting from any part of Pakistan outside the cities of Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore. The requirement also applies to contributors and freelance journalists working with foreign media organisations.
The Pakistani government says the guidelines are meant to create an administrative system that verifies journalists, coordinates reporting requirements and facilitates access to different regions. Officials have insisted that the new rules are not intended to restrict media freedom or prevent journalists from carrying out their work.
However, media organisations and journalist groups argue that the guidelines could significantly limit timely reporting, particularly during major events and emergencies. One of the main concerns is that the rules do not specify how long authorities may take to issue the required No Objection Certificate, commonly known as an NOC.
Foreign journalists have long faced delays in obtaining such permissions, with applications sometimes taking weeks or even months to be approved. In some cases, reporters say they never receive a response, making it nearly impossible to cover fast developing stories on the ground.
Because of these challenges, many international news organisations have traditionally relied on Pakistani journalists based in cities such as Peshawar, Quetta and other regions to gather information and verify developments. Under the new rules, these local contributors would also need official permission before covering stories for foreign media if they are outside the three designated cities.
Political commentator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar described the guidelines as a serious setback for independent journalism. He said international media often serve as an important source of balanced reporting and that restricting their work would only create more space for misinformation and false narratives to spread.
Veteran journalist Zaffar Abbas, editor of Dawn newspaper, also expressed deep concern over the decision. Drawing on more than four decades of reporting experience, including during periods of military and civilian rule, Abbas said he had never seen such extensive travel restrictions imposed on journalists. He argued that requiring reporters to seek official approval before travelling outside three major cities undermines both freedom of movement and freedom of the press.
The guidelines also contain a provision allowing authorities to suspend or withdraw media accreditation if journalists are found to have acted against the ideology, sovereignty, security or public order of Pakistan. Critics say these terms are broad and open to interpretation, raising fears that they could be used to discourage critical reporting.
The government maintains that every accreditation system must include safeguards allowing action against individuals whose conduct could affect national security or public order. Officials say the measures are administrative in nature and are managed by the External Publicity Wing of the Information Ministry under existing government rules.
Legal experts have also questioned the validity of the guidelines. Supreme Court lawyer Salahuddin Ahmed argued that the new rules are executive instructions rather than legislation approved by Parliament. According to him, they do not have a clear statutory basis and therefore may not be legally enforceable in the way they are presented.
Pakistan currently ranks 153 out of 180 countries in the latest World Press Freedom Index, reflecting long standing concerns over restrictions on journalists and media organisations. Local journalists have often reported facing greater pressure than foreign correspondents, especially when covering political developments, security issues and protests.
Recent tensions in Pakistan administered Kashmir and the government's criticism of international reporting on deadly protests in the region have added to concerns about the impact of the new guidelines. Journalists fear that obtaining travel permission before entering sensitive areas could prevent timely coverage of important events.
In response to the growing criticism, a group of international journalists, along with the president of Pakistan's Federal Union of Journalists, is seeking a meeting with the country's information minister to discuss the concerns raised by the new reporting rules and to urge the government to reconsider the restrictions.