Pakistan Introduces Sweeping Rules to Restrict Foreign Media Amid Kashmir Unrest
Foreign journalists must get a mandatory No Objection Certificate before covering stories in other cities, and registered media workers will receive QR-enabled accreditation cards.
- On Aug 05, 2026, Pakistan's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting introduced mandatory NOC requirements for foreign media personnel traveling outside Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi to produce news, documentary, or social media content.
- These measures follow reports of protests and alleged use of force in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, prompting concern from Amnesty International and the Committee to Protect Journalists over media access restrictions.
- Regulations extend to production houses, freelancers, and fixers requiring registration via the External Publicity Wing. Registered journalists receive QR-enabled PVC accreditation cards within seven working days, while full accreditation takes four to six weeks.
- For leisure travel to Abbottabad and Murree, journalists may obtain an NOC from the External Publicity Wing upon request, with approvals expected within three working days, according to Dawn.
- Registration establishes professional recognition but does not confer official status, the Ministry clarified. All Pakistani journalists residing abroad contributing to foreign media must submit applications through the External Publicity Wing portal and via nearest Pakistan missions.
26 Articles
26 Articles
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Pakistan introduces sweeping rules to restrict foreign media amid Kashmir unrest
New York, August 6, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Pakistani authorities to withdraw draconian new guidelines requiring journalists working for international media outlets to obtain authorization before reporting outside Islamabad, Karachi, or Lahore, in a move likely to censor coverage of unrest in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The guidelines, reviewed by CPJ, require international and...
Pakistan moves to silence global media after PoJK crackdown: NOCs mandatory for foreign journalists
Some days ago, before the second phase of polling in Pakistan Occupied J&K (PoJK) on August 2, Pakistan security forces launched a massive crackdown. This was directed at supporters of Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) and at least 40 died in direct firing by the Pakistan Army at protesters. These protesters, who had gathered outside Rawalakot city, were trying to march to region’s capital Muzaffarabad where the polls were to be …
'Get NOC For Reporting': Pakistan's New Diktat For Foreign Media Amid PoK Protest
The guidelines say all foreign journalists, already registered or accredited with the Ministry's External Publicity (EP) Wing, will now be required to secure a mandatory no-objection certificate (NOC) before travelling to any other city
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