Thirty-seven prominent British journalists have been granted visas to cover Pakistan’s upcoming general elections on February 8, 2024. Invited by the caretaker government as international observers, these journalists will join others from various media outlets to monitor the electoral proceedings.
The Pakistan High Commission in London facilitated the visa issuance, extending invitations to esteemed journalists, including Christina Lamb from The Times, among others from renowned outlets such as CNN, Sky, BBC, ITV, and Channel 4 News.
With some journalists already present and the rest expected to arrive this week, their collective aim is to contribute to ensuring the conduct of free and fair elections, aligning with the directives of the Pakistani government.
Among the list of journalists provided by Geo News are prominent figures from The Times, CBC, The Telegraph, CNN, Sky News, BBC News, ITV, and Channel 4 News, each bringing their expertise to cover the electoral process comprehensively.
According to caretaker Federal Minister for Information Murtaza Solangi, 49 visas have been issued for journalists covering Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi, with 32 requests still pending. Additionally, the accreditation process for foreign media and their Pakistani staff has seen progress, with 174 requests processed, representing journalists from various countries, including the UK, Russia, Japan, South Africa, and Commonwealth nations.
Ambreen Jan, the Executive Director General for the External Publicity Wing at the Press Information Department, highlighted the diverse international participation, with visa applications received from 14 countries and a total of 81 foreign journalists applying for coverage of the elections.