Pakistani authorities have introduced fresh guidelines requiring foreign journalists to obtain permission before reporting outside three major cities, drawing condemnation from press freedom advocates and legal experts who question the measures' legality and intent.

Pakistan has announced new regulations that require international media workers, including Pakistani nationals employed by foreign outlets, to secure official clearance before conducting reporting across most of the country. The Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines, 2026, issued on Sunday, restrict unrestricted reporting to Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore. All other coverage requires a No Objection Certificate (NOC), a permission process that has historically resulted in months-long delays or outright denials.

The Pakistani government characterised the guidelines as an administrative mechanism to verify credentials and coordinate reporting. However, critics argue the measures effectively silence international journalism in a nation already ranked 153rd out of 180 on the World Press Freedom Index. Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, a political commentator, stated that such restrictions diminish independent reporting and create opportunities for misinformation. Zaffar Abbas, editor of Dawn newspaper, described the guidelines as unprecedented in his four decades of journalism, even during periods of military rule.

Legal concerns have also emerged. Salhuddin Ahmed, a Supreme Court lawyer, contended that the guidelines lack statutory authority and represent an executive overreach, as they derive only from internal government rules rather than legislation. The regulations specify that journalists may lose accreditation for acts deemed against Pakistan's "ideology, sovereignty, security or public order"—language that legal experts characterise as dangerously vague.

International journalists have faced particular pressure regarding Pakistan-administered Kashmir, where two months of violent clashes have resulted in multiple deaths. The External Publicity wing instructed foreign correspondents to immediately leave the region and obtain permits before returning. Several international outlets, including the BBC and Al Jazeera, have reported from Kashmir, with Al Jazeera's website subsequently becoming inaccessible within Pakistan.