After Foreign Media Curbs, Pakistan Expands Controls On Local Staff Working For Global Outlets

Published 6 August 2026 · world

News world After Foreign Media Curbs, Pakistan Expands Controls On Local Staff Working For Global Outlets After Foreign Media Curbs, Pakistan Expands Controls On Local

News world After Foreign Media Curbs, Pakistan Expands Controls On Local Staff Working For Global Outlets After Foreign Media Curbs, Pakistan Expands Controls On Local Staff Working For Global Outlets Published By, Last Updated: August 07, 2026, 02:17 IST Under the new rules, Pakistani nationals working for foreign media organisations will need government permission to travel and report outside Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. Members of the media report with the President house building in the background, in Islamabad. (Reuters file photo) Pakistan has introduced fresh restrictions on foreign media operations in the country, bringing Pakistani journalists, fixers and other local staff working with international outlets under tighter government controls, Reuters reported. Under the new rules, Pakistani nationals working for foreign media organisations will need government permission to travel and report outside Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi.

They will also be required to register with authorities. Earlier, such movement restrictions mainly applied to foreign journalists working in Pakistan. The new guidelines now extend these controls to local media workers associated with foreign outlets. New Curbs Amid PoK Unrest The restrictions come at a time when Pakistan is witnessing protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and growing insurgent activity in parts of the country’s western provinces. The government’s Information Ministry shared the new guidelines on Sunday through a WhatsApp channel used for communication with foreign media organisations. A separate notice later directed foreign outlets without reporting permission to leave Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Pakistan has long restricted the movement of foreign journalists, with authorities often citing security concerns. However, the latest rules have raised concerns among press freedom groups.

Media Groups Raise Concerns Patricia Gossman of Human Rights Watch said the restrictions were an “alarming step" that could further reduce space for independent reporting and encourage self-censorship. She called for the measures to be reversed. Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and military did not respond to requests for comment. A government official, however, said the restrictions were not aimed at stopping criticism of the government or legitimate investigative journalism. Several international media organisations expressed concern over the move. The Financial Times said it supported journalists’ ability to report freely and independently, while the BBC called for the restrictions to be reversed. Pakistan ranks 153rd out of 180 countries in the Reporters Without Borders 2026 press freedom index, placing it in the “very serious" category.