All foreign media personnel to require NOC from info ministry for news coverage outside Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi

All foreign media personnel will now require a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MOIB) to travel to any city outside Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi for news coverage, according to recently issued guidelines. The new Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines, 2026, outline requirements for the registration and accreditation of “foreign media houses, organisations and outlets working in Pakistan and all eligible journalists, media owners, media professionals, sources, freelancers, sponsors, fixers, attached persons, assignees etc, of Pakistan working or contributing for them”. All foreign media personnel already accredited or registered with the MOIB’s External Publicity (EP) Wing will require a mandatory NOC from the wing for movement to any city except Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, in order to produce “news content, story, video, film, documentary or social media content” for official use. For leisure trips to Abbottabad and Murree, a NOC may be granted by the EP Wing upon the request of the journalist, within three working days, the notification added. The guidelines apply to all foreign or international print, electronic and digital media, including social media and web-based platforms. According to the new guidelines, all journalists working with international or foreign media outlets must register with the EP Wing through a designated Online Registration and Accreditation portal available at www.dml.nimar.pk/www.registration.epwing.gov.pk. “All Pakistani journalists residing abroad, contributing to foreign media and seeking registration must submit their application through the EP Wing portal and concurrently forward their case through the nearest press attaché, counsellor, minister posted in Pakistan missions, consulates, high commissions, or embassies,” the MOIB said. Additionally, all companies, entities, production houses etc. operating in Pakistan to facilitate foreign media “in any capacity” are also required to register with the ministry’s publicity wing, as are non-journalists living in Pakistan who render services to foreign media. “Registration shall not confer any official status and only establishes professional recognition,” the notification pointed out, adding that registration would only be considered if supported by a recommendation from the head of the organisation. After registration, journalists seeking a press accreditation card must submit their request via the portal alongside required documents. There are two types of accreditation: permanent accreditation to be granted on an annual basis, and temporary accreditation for visiting journalists, valid for a maximum of three months. Upon issuance of the EP Wing’s accreditation card, the wing will “facilitate” the journalists’ access to all official media events and government premises. Journalists will be “bound to produce that card on demand” and the card must be surrendered upon change of category or organisation, or upon the completion of the accreditation tenure. The notification said that registration cards may be issued within seven working days from the submission of an application, while the accreditation card may take four to six weeks. The MOIB may seek additional information and documents if required, it added.