ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has introduced sweeping new rules requiring journalists working for foreign media to register with the government, obtain official accreditation and seek permission before reporting from much of the country, significantly expanding state oversight of international news organizations.
The new Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines 2026 apply not only to foreign correspondents but also to Pakistani journalists, freelancers, stringers, fixers, translators, camera operators, production companies and others working in “any capacity” for international media organizations. Under the framework, registration with the Ministry of Information’s External Publicity (EP) Wing becomes mandatory before journalists can obtain accreditation, while reporting assignments outside the cities of Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad require a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the ministry.
The changes come days after the government publicly criticized international coverage of elections and unrest in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), accusing broadcasters including Al Jazeera and BBC of bias and selective reporting. The vote, which is taking place in phases until Aug. 10, continues but the EP Wing has instructed journalists working for foreign media to leave AJK immediately and obtain an NOC before returning to report there, saying many had traveled without the required permission. The move is widely seen as signaling the beginning of enforcement of the new regulatory framework.
“Registration with EP Wing, MoIB, shall be mandatory for all journalists working with international or foreign media outlets, including digital, print, electronic, and social media/news platforms... Such registration shall be a prerequisite for engaging with foreign media,” the guidelines state.
The document defines the scope of those covered broadly, extending beyond journalists to include media professionals, freelancers, contributors, stringers, fixers, sponsors, assignees, production companies and others working with foreign media organizations. They also introduce a new accreditation system under which journalists will receive QR code-enabled press cards issued by the EP Wing.
Another major change concerns travel.
The guidelines require all accredited journalists working for foreign media to obtain an NOC before traveling to any city outside Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi to produce news reports, documentaries, films or other official media content. While planned assignments could accommodate the additional approval process, critics say the requirement could complicate breaking news coverage, where journalists often need to travel within hours of a major event.
The rules also give the EP Wing broad powers to suspend or withdraw registration or accreditation. Among the grounds listed are misuse of accreditation, failure to notify authorities of changes in employment, and conduct deemed to be against the “ideology, sovereignty, security, or public order of Pakistan.” The guidelines do not define those terms or specify how they would be interpreted.
“These guidelines may be called regulations but they appear to restrict movement of journalists,” Iqbal Khattak, executive director of Freedom Network and Pakistan representative of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), told Arab News.
“I think asking Pakistani journalists working with foreign media organizations for registration might expose them to authorities’ wrath if the report they facilitated was seen as ‘negative reporting’ or ‘propaganda’.”
He also criticized provisions allowing accreditation to be suspended or withdrawn on grounds including national security, public order and state ideology.
“The terms such as ‘national security, public order or state ideology’ are used to stop media and its practitioners from doing professional duty fearlessly and in an enabling environment,” Khattak added.
