Pakistan has restricted the operations of international media outlets – BBC

Pakistani authorities have introduced new regulations titled “Guidelines for the Facilitation of Foreign Media 2026,” which significantly restrict the work of international media outlets and local freelancers. 

From now on, journalists must obtain a special permit (NOC) to report from any region of the country other than Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore. This decision has drawn sharp criticism from the journalism community and human rights advocates.

The government justifies the new measures by citing the creation of an “administrative mechanism” for coordination and oversight; however, critics emphasize that these actions are an attempt to stifle independent coverage of events, particularly protests in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The new rules also provide for the possibility of revoking journalists’ accreditation for actions directed against the country’s “ideology, sovereignty, or security.”

Source: BBC.

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