Hyderabad Division Commissioner Fayyaz Hussain Abbasi highlighted social media’s role, particularly WhatsApp groups, in facilitating the timely flow of information to administrative bodies and stressed the need to prevent the spread of unverified information online.

The session, held at a local hotel, was part of a five-day programme titled The Digital Democracy Landscape: Social Media, Civic Participation, and Public Engagement, organised by the Women Media Center Pakistan (WMC) in Hyderabad from October 6 to 10, with participants from various media sectors.

Abbasi urged media and mass communication students to use digital platforms responsibly to highlight societal issues and ground realities, helping administrative bodies make decisions and resolve public concerns. He also stressed the media’s role in public liaison and civic engagement and called for stronger professional skills among media practitioners.

The programme includes practical exercises, discussions and interactive sessions to enhance digital communication skills. It targets women journalists, media students and professionals, focusing on contemporary digital media practices and responsible reporting.