Pakistan issues foreign media guidelines, drawing criticism from press freedom groups

Pakistan's government has introduced new guidelines for foreign media, requiring registration and government clearance for reporting outside the country's three largest cities. The Ministry of Information states these guidelines aim to create a transparent framework, not to restrict press freedom. However, press freedom advocates and journalist groups criticize the measures, arguing they create bureaucratic hurdles that could discourage independent reporting and potentially lead to further restrictions by civilian and security agencies. The guidelines were issued following controversy over foreign media coverage of Pakistan-administered Kashmir and ahead of upcoming elections there. Media rights organizations have urged the government to withdraw the guidelines, citing a pattern of shrinking space for independent journalism in Pakistan.

Pakistani authorities have implemented new regulations restricting international media reporting across most of the country, requiring prior permission to report outside of Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore. These rules follow international media coverage of protests and killings in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, which the government has criticized. The new guidelines, termed Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines 2026, mandate accreditation for foreign journalists and state that accreditation can be revoked for actions deemed against Pakistan's ideology, sovereignty, security, or public order. Journalist organizations have expressed significant backlash, with some describing the restrictions as unprecedented and worse than martial law, while the government denies they are a blanket ban.

Top global media organizations, including the BBC, CNN, Reuters, and The Associated Press, have jointly urged Israel to grant independent access to Gaza for foreign journalists. The executives stated that on-the-ground reporting is crucial for questioning official accounts and witnessing events firsthand. This plea comes despite a ceasefire being in place, as Israel has maintained a ban on foreign reporters entering Gaza since October 7, 2023. Previous justifications for the ban included operational security for Israeli soldiers and safety concerns in an active battle zone. While Israel has occasionally facilitated highly controlled media trips, independent access has been denied. The media outlets argue that journalists do not pose a threat and question why aid workers can enter Gaza but journalists cannot. The Israeli government has not yet responded to the request.