'Choking International Media': Pakistan Tightens Grip On Foreign Media, Makes Coverage From PoK Harder

Published 5 August 2026 · world

News world 'Choking International Media': Pakistan Tightens Grip On Foreign Media, Makes Coverage From PoK Harder 'Choking International Media': Pakistan Tightens Grip On Foreign Media

News world 'Choking International Media': Pakistan Tightens Grip On Foreign Media, Makes Coverage From PoK Harder 'Choking International Media': Pakistan Tightens Grip On Foreign Media, Makes Coverage From PoK Harder Published By, Last Updated: August 05, 2026, 22:12 IST Dawn editor Zaffar Abbas called the media curbs "ridiculous restrictions" and said he had never witnessed such limitations during more than four decades of journalism. Pakistan Faces Backlash Over New Curbs On International Journalists Pakistani authorities are trying hard to curb free speech and prevent reports of violence in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Balochistan from reaching the global audience. This came soon after Pakistan blocked access to Al Jazeera after the Qatari broadcaster released reports on Islamabad’s brutal crackdown on anti-government protests and election-related protests in PoK. Islamabad has introduced new restrictions on international media reporting, requiring journalists working for foreign media organisations to obtain official permission before reporting from most parts of the country. Under the new rules, foreign media personnel, including Pakistani nationals working for international outlets, can report freely only from Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore.

Reporting from anywhere else will require prior permission from the authorities. New reporting rules draw criticism The restrictions are part of the Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines, 2026, issued on Sunday. The move has drawn criticism from journalists and media organisations, who argue that it will make independent reporting more difficult in a country that ranks 153rd out of 180 on the World Press Freedom Index. According to a BBC report, political commentator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar described the guidelines as “tantamount to choking international media in an increasingly shrinking space". He said the public relied on international media for independent reporting and warned that the restrictions could create more room for disinformation and fake news. The government, however, said the guidelines were not intended to restrict the media but to provide an administrative mechanism to verify journalists, facilitate access and coordinate reporting requirements. Concerns over permissions and accreditation The new guidelines do not specify how long it will take for journalists to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC), which is required for reporting outside the three designated cities.