3 weeks ago
Media bodies criticise Pakistan's new 2026 guidelines for foreign press
Pakistan has made new rules for news reporters who come from other countries.
The rules are called the Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines 2026.
Under these rules, international news organisations and their reporters must sign up with the Pakistani government.
Reporters also need permission before they can travel outside three big cities: Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore.
Groups that protect journalists, like the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and the Committee to Protect Journalists, say these rules hurt press freedom.
They asked Pakistan to take the rules back.
The new rules came after Pakistan complained about how international media covered protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Pakistan also blocked people from using the Al Jazeera news website.
More than 50 people have died during the unrest in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The journalist groups worry that reporters will be punished just for doing their jobs.
Pakistan implemented the Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines 2026, requiring international media organisations and their journalists to register with the government.
Media bodies including the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called the guidelines a "direct assault on press freedom."
Journalists must obtain government approval before visiting areas outside Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore for producing news content.
The guidelines came days after Pakistan accused Al Jazeera of "yellow journalism" over its coverage of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and restricted access to its website.
The measures follow unrest in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir that has claimed more than 50 lives and left hundreds injured.
- Who
- Pakistan's government, which issued the guidelines, and media bodies including the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), which criticised them.
- What
- Implementation of the Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines 2026, requiring international media to register and seek approval for reporting outside three main cities, which critics call an attack on press freedom.
- Where
- Pakistan, covering areas outside Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore, and towns near the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir border such as Abbottabad and Murree.
- When
- Announced and enforced on Thursday, days after Pakistan criticised international reporting on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and restricted Al Jazeera's website.
- Why
- Because the government criticised international reporting on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir elections and protests as sensational and wants to place curbs on foreign media coverage.
Press freedom advocates and media bodies
Pakistan government
Nature of the guidelines
Press freedom advocates and media bodies
Media bodies call the guidelines a "direct assault on press freedom" that attack freedom of expression and will further reduce Pakistan's already low global media ranking.
Pakistan government
Pakistan presents the rules as facilitation measures that require registration and allow accreditation to be suspended or revoked for acts against the "ideology, sovereignty, security, or public order of Pakistan."
Coverage of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir
Press freedom advocates and media bodies
CPJ warns the guidelines open the door to further restricting international coverage and exposing journalists, especially those reporting on PoK unrest, to administrative retaliation.
Pakistan government
Pakistan criticised international reporting on PoK elections and protests as sensational, accusing Al Jazeera of "yellow journalism" and restricting access to its website.
Travel restrictions for journalists
Press freedom advocates and media bodies
Requiring government approval to report outside Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore prevents journalists from freely covering events across Pakistan and near the PoK border.
Pakistan government
The guidelines require government approval and NOCs for travel outside the main cities, including for leisure trips to Abbottabad and Murree, as conditions for working in Pakistan.
Key facts
- Guidelines
- Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines 2026
- Registration body
- External Publicity Wing, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
- Approval required for
- Travel outside Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore
- NOC required for
- Abbottabad and Murree, near the PoK border
- PoK unrest toll
- More than 50 dead, hundreds injured
- Al Jazeera in Pakistan
- Website access restricted
- Demanded repeal
- Section 26A of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025
- Main critics
- PFUJ, CPJ and international organisations
Quotes
Waliullah Rahmani
CPJ Afghanistan and Pakistan Representative
“The Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines open the door for Pakistani authorities to further restrict international media coverage, prevent journalists from reporting freely outside Pakistan’s three main cities, and risk exposing them to administrative retaliation.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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