Pakistan's government has introduced new guidelines for international media, which it states are intended to streamline reporting and verify media operations. However, the rules, titled the Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines, 2026, have drawn sharp criticism from journalists and editors who argue they impose undue restrictions on press freedom and freedom of movement.
Under the new regulations, any foreign journalist, including freelancers and Pakistani nationals working for international outlets, will require a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to report from anywhere outside of Pakistan's three major cities. Previously, foreign journalists already needed NOCs, but the process for obtaining them could take months, often hindering their ability to cover breaking news in a country of 240 million people. This often led outlets to rely on local Pakistani journalists who could travel more easily or were based in key reporting hubs.
The government maintains that the guidelines are not intended to restrict media but to provide an administrative mechanism for coordination. However, the guidelines also stipulate that journalists can lose their accreditation for "acts against ideology, sovereignty, security or public order of Pakistan." Critics describe this clause as vague and open to broad interpretation.
Zaffar Abbas, editor of Dawn newspaper, called the restrictions "ridiculous" and unprecedented, even during periods of military rule or autocratic civilian governments. He argued that requiring an NOC for travel outside major cities undermines both freedom of movement and freedom of the press.
A Supreme Court lawyer, Salhuddin Ahmed, stated that the guidelines lack legal backing, describing them as an executive order rather than a statutory framework. He suggested they appear to be a poorly conceived attempt to further limit independent reporting.
The government asserts that the guidelines are implemented under existing rules of business and regulate the administrative relationship between the Information Ministry's External Publicity wing and foreign media. Meanwhile, a group of international journalists and the president of Pakistan's Federal Union of Journalists are seeking a meeting with the information minister to voice their concerns.