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Pakistan Orders Foreign Journalists Register, Expels Unapproved Kashmir Reporters

8/7/2026

Summary

Story summary

On Aug 2, Ministry of Information required foreign journalists to obtain registration and a No-Objection Certificate to report outside Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi.
On Aug 3, a WhatsApp notice ordered foreign outlets without permission to leave Pakistan-administered Kashmir immediately.
Accreditation cards will be issued within four to six weeks while travel to Abbottabad and Murree can be approved in three days.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan warned the rules will chill reporting.

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Story summary

On Aug 2, Ministry of Information required foreign journalists to obtain registration and a No-Objection Certificate to report outside Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi.
On Aug 3, a WhatsApp notice ordered foreign outlets without permission to leave Pakistan-administered Kashmir immediately.
Accreditation cards will be issued within four to six weeks while travel to Abbottabad and Murree can be approved in three days.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan warned the rules will chill reporting.