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Pakistan's newly introduced regulations requiring foreign journalists to obtain official permission before reporting from most parts of the country have sparked criticism from media and human rights organisations, with concerns that the measures will further weaken press freedom in the country, as reported by Dawn.
According to Dawn, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said the government's Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines 2026 would institutionalise official control over news gathering instead of facilitating journalistic work. The rights body argued that forcing reporters to secure state approval before travelling beyond Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi sends a troubling signal that independent and critical reporting is increasingly being discouraged. HRCP said the latest rules are part of a broader trend of shrinking space for free journalism in Pakistan, pointing to increasing censorship, administrative hurdles and restrictions on reporting. The commission urged the government to immediately withdraw the measures and fulfil its constitutional as well as international commitments to protect freedom of expression. The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) also denounced the new policy, calling it a direct assault on press freedom. PFUJ President Afzal Butt and Secretary General Arshad Ansari said the regulations not only restrict foreign correspondents but also prevent Pakistani journalists employed by international media organisations from independently travelling to many regions for reporting. The union questioned how reporters would be able to carry out their professional responsibilities under such restrictions, warning that the policy could further damage Pakistan's international reputation. PFUJ also expressed concern that journalists working with foreign news organisations could face difficulties if they are unable to travel for assignments, as highlighted by Dawn. Under the new guidelines, foreign journalists must obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from Pakistan's Ministry of Information before travelling outside Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi to produce news reports, documentaries, videos or other media content. The regulations also require organisations and individuals assisting foreign media operations in Pakistan to register with the ministry's External Publicity Wing, as reported by Dawn. (ANI)
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