Pakistani authorities have announced new rules that require any foreign media worker, including Pakistani nationals, to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) before reporting outside the major cities of Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore.
The move was framed as an “administrative mechanism” to verify media presence, but journalists have called it a blanket restriction that will choke international coverage and increase the space for misinformation.
Currently Pakistan sits at 153 on the World Press Freedom Index. The guidelines also allow the government to revoke accreditation for any coverage “against ideology, sovereignty, security or public order,” a clause critics say is terribly vague.
Journalists such as Zaffar Abbas of Dawn and other reporters have warned that the new rules will undermine freedom of movement and press. A group of foreign journalists has now asked the Information Minister to meet and discuss the concerns.
The restrictions come amid escalating violence in Pakistan‑administered Kashmir, where the government has broken up protests and limited internet access. International outlets that covered the unrest—including the BBC and Al Jazeera—have been told to return immediately, and the ministry said they would apply for an NOC.
