The Islamic Republic of Pakistan has introduced new restrictions on foreign media personnel, requiring journalists including Australians to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MOIB) before travelling outside Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi for reporting assignments.
As per Dawn, the new Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines, 2026 apply to foreign and international print, television, digital and social media organisations, as well as journalists, freelancers, media contributors, fixers and other individuals working with foreign outlets.
Under the revised rules, foreign media personnel already registered or accredited with the MOIB’s External Publicity (EP) Wing must seek approval before travelling to any city other than the three major centres to produce news reports, videos, documentaries, films or social media content.
The guidelines state that NOCs will be required for foreign journalists undertaking official media work outside Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. However, journalists travelling for leisure to destinations such as Abbottabad and Murree may receive approval from the EP Wing upon request within three working days.
The MOIB said all journalists working with foreign media organisations must register through designated online portals, while Pakistani journalists based overseas who contribute to international outlets must also complete registration through the EP Wing process.
The new requirements extend beyond journalists, with companies, production houses and other entities supporting foreign media operations in Pakistan also required to register with the ministry. Non-journalists providing services to foreign media outlets will also fall under the registration framework.
The guidelines clarify that registration does not provide official government status but establishes professional recognition. Applications will only be considered when supported by recommendations from the relevant media organisation.
Following registration, journalists seeking press accreditation cards must apply separately and provide required documentation. The government has introduced two categories of accreditation — annual permanent accreditation and temporary accreditation for visiting journalists, valid for up to three months.
The EP Wing will facilitate access for accredited journalists to official media events and government premises, but journalists must carry their accreditation cards and surrender them when their accreditation period ends or their employment status changes.
The MOIB said registration cards may be issued within seven working days, while accreditation cards could take four to six weeks, with authorities reserving the right to request additional information or documents.
Pakistan has also restricted the operations of Al Jazeera in the country, over its recent coverage of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, where more than 80 people have been killed over the past six weeks.
The latest measures come against the backdrop of an already highly restrictive media environment in Pakistan. Journalists have long faced significant constraints on reporting from sensitive regions such as Pakistan occupied Balochistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), while criticism of the country’s military establishment has often led to intimidation, censorship or legal action. Press freedom advocates have also documented a long history of journalists being harassed, forcibly disappeared, assaulted and, in some cases, killed, contributing to a climate of fear and self-censorship among the media.
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