Journalists, rights bodies condemn curbs on media freedom in Pakistan

AI Summary

Pakistan's new Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines 2026 require foreign-affiliated journalists to obtain government permission before traveling outside major cities like Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi for news coverage. This move has drawn condemnation from journalists and rights organizations over media freedom restrictions.

Under the new SoPs — Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines 2026 — the journalists associated with foreign media will have to seek permission from the federal government for travelling to any city outside Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi for news coverage