The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) have criticised the government’s newly introduced Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines 2026, warning that the policy could further restrict press freedom and discourage independent reporting.
The criticism follows the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s reminder earlier this week that foreign media organisations must obtain prior government approval before undertaking reporting assignments outside Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, in line with the revised guidelines.
The ministry issued the reminder after accusing Al Jazeera of “selective reporting” during coverage of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections.
In a statement, the HRCP said the new guidelines, instead of facilitating journalism, risked creating additional obstacles for reporting on issues of public interest. The commission described the policy as part of a broader pattern of increasing restrictions on media freedom in Pakistan, citing censorship, legal hurdles and administrative controls.
The rights body said requiring prior state approval for reporting from large parts of the country could discourage critical journalism and called on the government to withdraw the measures, urging it to uphold its constitutional and international commitments to freedom of expression.
The PFUJ also condemned the policy, describing it as a serious setback for press freedom and independent journalism in Pakistan.