Media Facilitation Centre set up for journalists covering ‘Islamabad Talks’

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Saturday stated 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 yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced that visas on arrival would be available for journalists from Iran and the United States, adding that journalists from across 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 Jinnah Convention Centre,” Tarar said. “High-speed internet connectivity, printers, computers and screens have been installed, and all facilities required to perform journalistic duties have been made available.”

Further, the minister said that Islamabad’s Red Zone was close to the centre, making it easy for journalists to carry out their coverage.

“An effort has been made to provide all facilities in one place so that journalists do not face any difficulty in coverage,” Tarar said. “We welcome the foreign journalists coming for coverage,” he added.

Earlier, Tarar in a post on X, said that the government had established a Media Facilitation Centre at the Jinnah Convention Centre 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 way possible.” The centre has been established by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, he stated, adding, “We will be looking after them well.”

A day earlier, Dar said that delegates and journalists from 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, travelling in relation to Islamabad Talks 2026. To this end, all airlines are requested to permit boarding to all such individuals without a visa. Immigration authorities in Pakistan will issue them a visa on arrival.”

Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi then clarified that the visa on arrival facility applies only to delegates and journalists from participating nations, namely Iran and the United States. “This facility, extended for the duration of the talks, does not cover third-country nationals,” he added.

The government has introduced these facilities as senior figures from the United States and Iran are set to hold historic talks in Islamabad today, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif describing the high-stakes negotiations as a “make or break moment” for peace.

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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf landed in Pakistan late on Friday night, the Foreign Office said. The delegation was received by Dar along with National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and Minister for Interior Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, the statement added.

US Vice President JD Vance also departed for Islamabad yesterday, telling media that America was looking forward to the negotiation with Iran and expressing hope that the talks would be positive. The delegation from the US will be led by Vance, who will be accompanied by President Donald Trump’s key Middle East envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

On April 8, Trump agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, less than two hours before his 8:00pm deadline to destroy a “whole civilisation,” while responding to diplomatic efforts from Pakistan to defuse tensions in the Middle East. Shehbaz also announced the ceasefire in a post on X, inviting the delegations of both Iran and the US to Islamabad on Friday, April 10, “to further negotiate for a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes.”

The prime minister expressed hope “that the ‘Islamabad Talks’ succeed in achieving sustainable peace.”