Pakistan makes NOC mandatory for foreign media beyond three cities
What the new guidelines require
The Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines 2026, issued by the ministry's External Publicity Wing, lay out a comprehensive framework governing the registration, accreditation and movement of foreign media organisations and personnel working in Pakistan.
Under the rules, any foreign journalist, media professional or associated personnel already accredited or registered with the EP Wing must secure a mandatory NOC before travelling to any city other than the three major hubs in order to produce news content, stories, videos, films, documentaries or social media content for official use.
The five-page policy covers international print, electronic, digital and social media platforms, along with web-based outlets, and extends beyond journalists themselves to include media owners, freelancers, sponsors, fixers, production companies and other individuals or entities contributing to foreign media operations in Pakistan.
Registration and accreditation process
The guidelines make registration compulsory for all foreign media houses and their associated personnel through the EP Wing's online portal. Once registered, journalists seeking a press accreditation card must apply separately with the required documentation. The ministry has created two accreditation categories: a permanent card renewed annually, and a temporary card for visiting journalists valid for up to three months.
Registered journalists will receive QR-enabled PVC accreditation cards that facilitate access to official government events and premises, which they will be required to present on demand. Registration cards are expected to be issued within seven working days, while full accreditation cards may take between four and six weeks to process.
A narrow exception, and a right to appeal
The rules include a limited relaxation for personal, non-reporting travel to Abbottabad and Murree, where journalists can still obtain an NOC from the EP Wing within three working days. Pakistani journalists based abroad who contribute to foreign outlets have also been directed to register through the same portal, submitting their applications via the nearest Pakistani embassy, high commission or consulate. The guidelines state that journalists denied an NOC can appeal directly to the Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Also Read: Pakistan blocks Al Jazeera English over 'selective' AJK coverage
Timing raises Press freedom concerns
The new restrictions arrive amid heightened scrutiny of media access in Pakistan following weeks of unrest tied to elections in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, where protests, road closures and reports of excessive force by security personnel have drawn international attention.
Rights groups including Amnesty International and CPJ Asia have called for independent investigations into alleged restrictions on journalists and the use of force against demonstrators during the crackdown.
The guidelines follow closely on the heels of separate reports that Al Jazeera English's website became inaccessible in Pakistan after the government accused the broadcaster of selective reporting on the Kashmir election, fuelling broader concern that the new NOC framework could be used to further limit independent coverage of sensitive regions.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has not directly linked the two developments, and maintains that the guidelines are intended to formalise and regulate, rather than restrict, foreign media operations in the country.
