Pakistani authorities have imposed new restrictions on international media reporting in the country in a move that has drawn sharp criticism from journalist organisations. "These guidelines are tantamount to choking international media in an increasingly shrinking space," said political commentator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar. Limitations on the media are not new, but local media are often subject to more pressure than international outlets. "The public looks at the international media for independent reporting," Khokhar says. International media outlets often therefore rely on Pakistani nationals, who can travel more easily to – or are permanently based in – cities like Peshawar or Quetta, to verify information.