By The South Asia Times

LONDON - Amnesty International has condemned Pakistan's new restrictions on foreign media outlets, stating the regulations constitute an "attack on press freedom" and questioning the government's motives.

The human rights organization's South Asia regional office issued a statement on social media criticizing the Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines, 2026, which require all foreign media personnel and their local staff to obtain government permission before traveling outside Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi for reporting.

"Why is the government afraid of truth?" Amnesty asked in its post, as it urged "Pakistan's authorities to end the escalating restrictions on the right to freedom of expression, including press freedom, access to information and human rights advocacy".

The new guidelines require all foreign journalists and Pakistani nationals working with international media organizations to register with the Ministry of Information's External Publicity Wing and obtain a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) for any travel beyond the three major cities. The rules also mandate registration for any company, production house, or individual in Pakistan facilitating foreign media "in any capacity".

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) similarly expressed deep concern, saying the "requirement that journalists obtain state approval to report from large parts of the country sends a chilling message: critical reporting is unwelcome".

The HRCP noted the rules would "invariably institutionalise bureaucratic control over news-gathering and risk deterring independent reporting on matters of public interest," describing this as "the latest in a growing pattern of restrictions on media freedom in Pakistan".

Amnesty joined a chorus of international condemnation. The BBC said it was "extremely concerned" by the new rules, stating its journalists "must be able to travel to all parts of the country to cover events as they emerge and to hear the voices of ordinary citizens". The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called the guidelines "yet another appalling blow to press freedom in Pakistan".

The guidelines allow for registration or accreditation to be suspended or withdrawn for "acts against ideology, sovereignty, security or public order of Pakistan," provisions that critics say expose local journalists, fixers, and drivers to potential retribution