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Pakistan’s new media regulations barring foreign media reporting outside its three main cities without prior registrations have prompted heavy concern from the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), who argue that such moves greatly threaten press freedom and independent journalism in a nation where media freedom is already low.
The criticism follows the government’s introduction of the Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines 2026, which require all foreign media personnel to obtain a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Information Ministry before travelling outside Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi to produce news reports, documentaries, films, videos or social media content.
The guidelines also require organizations facilitating foreign media, along with Pakistani nationals working for international media outlets, to register with the ministry’s External Publicity (EP) Wing.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the HRCP said the requirement for journalists to obtain state approval before reporting from large parts of the country “sends a chilling message” that critical journalism is unwelcome.
The rights body argued that the new rules would “institutionalize bureaucratic control over news gathering” and discourage independent reporting on matters of public interest rather than facilitate journalism. It described the move as part of a broader pattern of shrinking media freedom in Pakistan, citing increasing censorship, arbitrary restrictions on reporting and legal and administrative barriers faced by journalists.
The HRCP urged the government to withdraw the measures and uphold its constitutional and international obligations to protect freedom of expression.
The PFUJ also condemned the guidelines, describing them as an attack on freedom of expression and press freedom. In a statement, PFUJ President Afzal Butt and Secretary General Arshad Ansari said the restrictions effectively prevent both foreign correspondents and Pakistani journalists working for international media organizations from travelling independently to large parts of the country.
The union questioned how journalists could fulfil their professional responsibilities under the new rules and warned that the restrictions would further damage Pakistan’s international reputation on press freedom.
The PFUJ noted that “Pakistan is already ranked very low among the countries that have the worst record in press freedom. And the action of the government would add to it.”
It also warned that the measures could threaten the livelihoods of Pakistani journalists employed by international media organizations, as they may be unable to carry out reporting assignments outside the three designated cities.
The union called on the government to immediately revoke the restrictions if it remained committed to democratic values and media freedom.
The body further condemning the move said “such actions are taken in banana republics, not in countries that claim to follow democratic principles.”
“If the demands of PFUJ are not accepted, we would be left with no option but to resort to protest and demonstrations,” it warned.
The guidelines further state that press registrations may be suspended or revoked for actions deemed contrary to Pakistan’s ideology, sovereignty, security or public order, or whenever the External Publicity Wing considers such action appropriate.
