Key Takeaways
- All foreign media personnel require a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
- The new guidelines apply to all international print, electronic and digital media working in Pakistan.
- Registration with the External Publicity Wing is mandatory for journalists seeking accreditation.
Foreign media personnel operating in Pakistan must now obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to cover news outside Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi. This new requirement was outlined in the Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines 2026.
The guidelines detail stringent requirements for the registration and accreditation of foreign media houses, organisations, and journalists working with international or foreign media outlets in Pakistan.
All accredited or registered foreign media personnel must secure a mandatory NOC from the External Publicity (EP) Wing to produce news content, stories, videos, films, documentaries, or social media content for official use outside Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi.
For leisure trips to Abbottabad and Murree, journalists can request a NOC within three working days. The guidelines apply to all international print, electronic, and digital media, including social media and web-based platforms.
To register with the EP Wing, journalists must use an online portal available at www.dml.nimar.pk or www.registration.epwing.gov.pk. Pakistani journalists residing abroad contributing to foreign media must also submit their applications through this portal and forward their cases via press attachés in Pakistan missions.
All companies, entities, production houses, and non-journalists living in Pakistan who render services to foreign media are required to register with the ministry’s publicity wing. Registration does not confer any official status but establishes professional recognition.
After registration, journalists seeking a Press Accreditation Card must submit their requests via the portal along with necessary documents. There are two types of accreditation: permanent for an annual basis and temporary for up to three months.
Upon issuance of the EP Wing’s accreditation card, journalists will be facilitated access to all official media events and government premises. They must produce this card on demand and surrender it upon a change in category or organisation, or at the end of their accreditation tenure.
The registration process can take up to seven working days, while the accreditation card issuance may take four to six weeks. The ministry reserves the right to seek additional information if needed.
