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

The Pakistani Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MOIB) has implemented new Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines, 2026, requiring foreign media personnel to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the MOIB's External Publicity (EP) Wing for any news coverage outside Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi. The guidelines extend to all foreign and international print, electronic, and digital media, including social media and web-based platforms.

Accredited or registered foreign media personnel with the MOIB’s EP Wing must still obtain a mandatory NOC for movement to cities other than Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi. Leisure trips to Abbottabad and Murree may receive expedited NOC approval within three working days. All Pakistani journalists residing abroad contributing to foreign media must register through the MOIB’s portal, as must companies, entities, production houses, and non-journalists providing services to foreign media.

Journalists must submit their registration request and required documents via the portal, followed by a request for a Press Accreditation Card, which can be permanent or temporary with a maximum validity of three months. The MOIB will facilitate journalists' access to official media events and government premises upon issuing the accreditation card.

Registration cards may be issued within seven working days, while accreditation cards may take four to six weeks.