ISLAMABAD:
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Saturday that around 50 foreign journalists arrived in Pakistan for the “Islamabad talks”.
“Journalists from various countries including China, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Germany and Korea have submitted visa applications to cover the talks,” he said while speaking to state broadcaster PTV.
Tarar noted that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced yesterday that visas on arrival would be available to journalists from Iran and the United States, adding that journalists from all over the world were arriving in Pakistan for coverage.
“The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has provided all necessary facilities for journalists under one roof at the Jinnah Convention Centre,” Tarar said. “High-speed Internet connection, printers, computers and monitors have been installed and all facilities necessary to carry out journalistic tasks have been provided.”
Furthermore, the minister said that Islamabad’s red zone was close to the center, which made it easy for journalists to carry out their coverage.
“Efforts have been made to provide all facilities at one place so that journalists do not face any problem in covering,” Tarar said. “We welcome the foreign journalists who come to get coverage,” he added.
Earlier, in a post on X, Tarar said the government had set up a media facilitation center at the Jinnah Convention Center for foreign journalists arriving to cover the ‘Islamabad Talks’,
He said: “All arrangements are in place to facilitate foreign and local journalists in the best possible way.” The center has been established by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, he said, adding: “We will take good care of them.”
Meanwhile, the journalists around the Jinnah Convention Center are snacking away the time.
The convention center often hosts awards ceremonies and other large productions; now it hosts a legion of reporters and producers to cover the main event.
The press corps is well equipped for long negotiations. There is plenty of free coffee available, along with a buffet of curries and barbecues for lunch and dinner.
Staff from the Ministry of Information are on hand for any technical and logistical support, and the center’s main hall is decked out in diplomatic decor – huge banners everywhere boast the “Islamabad Talks” with the American, Pakistani and Iranian flags arranged in the centre.
Likewise, a large sign on the convention floor announces #IslamabadTalks for the social media inclined. A bank of sofas for all tired journalists is arranged directly in front of the display.
A day earlier, Dar said that delegates and journalists from the participating nations coming for peace talks will be issued a visa on arrival in Islamabad.
He said that “Pakistan welcomes all delegates, including journalists from participating nations, traveling in connection with the Islamabad Talks 2026. To this end, all airlines are requested to allow boarding of all such persons without a visa. The immigration authorities of Pakistan will issue them a visa on arrival.”
Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi then clarified that visas on arrival only apply to delegates and journalists from the participating nations, namely Iran and the United States. “This facility, extended for the duration of the negotiations, does not cover third-country nationals,” he added.
The government has introduced these facilities as senior figures from the US and Iran are due to hold historic talks in Islamabad today, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif describing the high-stakes talks as a “make or break moment” for peace.
