On October 23, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said that the absence of local offices of major social media platforms in Pakistan limits accountability and hinders efforts to combat misinformation and disinformation. He made these remarks while addressing the Strategic Dialogue on Media Literacy and Digital Resilience, held in Islamabad.
Tarar emphasized that national security is a top priority for the government, which has been evident in Pakistan’s handling of information warfare during recent tensions with India and conflicts involving Afghanistan. He stated that the government is actively working to establish collaborations with these platforms to enhance accountability and tackle digital manipulation.
During the dialogue, Tarar advocated for the integration of Media and Information Literacy (MIL) into the national education curricula to empower citizens to think critically and engage ethically online. He expressed his intent to forward this recommendation to the relevant authorities.
Canadian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Tarik Ali Khan, underscored Canada’s commitment to supporting a free, open, and secure digital space. He stressed the importance of digital literacy and cybersecurity to ensure a safe online environment and promote media freedom.
UNESCO Country Representative Fuad Pashayev highlighted the significance of MIL in defending against the challenges posed by generative AI and algorithmic manipulation, marking this as a theme for the upcoming Global Media and Information Literacy Week 2025.
Prof. Dr. Savera Mujib Shami from the University of the Punjab stressed that media literacy is essential for everyone, influencing political awareness and the broader social and moral fabric of society.
The dialogue also marked the culmination of a capacity-building initiative funded by Canada’s Cyber and Digital Resilience Fund (CDRF), aimed at countering misinformation, enhancing online safety, and promoting media literacy in Pakistan’s evolving digital landscape. The initiative includes a series of workshops aimed at training journalists in cyber-security, digital safety, and trauma-informed peer support.
The event brought together senior government officials, media practitioners, civil society representatives, and academia to discuss strategies for strengthening media freedom, digital inclusion, and information integrity.
