Caretaker Federal Minister for Information Murtaza Solangi said on Monday that a significant number of foreign journalists and observers have expressed keen interest in covering the upcoming 2024 elections in Pakistan.
Contrary to speculation that international media outlets were hesitant to send their representatives due to perceived risks, Solangi revealed that 174 foreign journalists have applied to cover the elections, with 49 already granted visas.
Addressing concerns during a press conference in Islamabad, Solangi dismissed rumors that international journalists were skeptical about the election environment, likening it to wearing a burqa and suggested potential chaos.
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He clarified, "There is no truth in this; the facts are that many international journalists and representatives from prominent organizations, including CNN, BBC, German broadcaster Deutsche Welle, and Japanese broadcasters, are already in Pakistan."
Solangi went on to disclose that the deadline for international journalists to apply for visas was January 20, and despite the passing date, applications continued to pour in.
Meanwhile, 24 journalists from India have applied to the Pakistan High Commissioner in Delhi. The applications include a diverse range of media outlets, with prominent names like CNN and BBC alongside representatives from Japan and Germany.
Mr Solangi highlighted the issuance of special cards to over 6,000 Pakistani journalists for comprehensive coverage of the elections. Special cards have been distributed regionally, with 1200 for Lahore, 1470 for Karachi, 1050 for Peshawar, 600 for Quetta, 355 for Hyderabad, 250 for Faisalabad, and 290 for Multan.
Solangi further revealed that 32 visas for foreign journalists are currently under investigation, with a possibility of being released later. Moreover, he confirmed that foreign observers are also expected to be present during the electoral process.
Notably, 25 observers from Britain, 8 from Russia, 13 from Japan, 5 from Canada, and 2 from South Africa, along with 5 observers from the Commonwealth, have applied for visas to witness the democratic exercise in Pakistan.
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