Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar Monday said misinformation has emerged as the most serious challenge of the present era, stressing that the government alone cannot effectively counter it without the collective role of media, educational institutions and civil society.
Addressing a dialogue organised by IBA Karachi, the minister said the rapid development of artificial intelligence has further complicated efforts to deal with misinformation, making verification and responsible dissemination of information more critical than ever.
He said several initiatives had been taken under his leadership to tackle the issue, including the establishment of Pakistan’s first Digital Communication Department as an affiliated institution of the Ministry of Information.
Through the ministry’s official social media platforms, information is verified and fake news is regularly identified and labelled as false, he added.
Highlighting the role of iVerify Pakistan, Tarar said the platform has made its mark both nationally and internationally, terming its progress highly encouraging. He appreciated IBA Karachi for establishing iVerify Pakistan, noting that it had played an effective role in countering misinformation during challenging times.
The information minister said iVerify is now frequently cited not only within Pakistan but also by international journals and global media platforms as an authoritative source. He added that systems like iVerify are essential for promoting responsible journalism and for the timely and effective identification of fake news in the country.
Tarar emphasised that cooperation and coordination among all stakeholders was the way forward. “The government cannot fight misinformation alone,” he said, adding that the media industry carries a major responsibility and media houses must actively play their part.
Referring to technological developments, he said several social media platforms have begun clearly labelling AI-generated content, and called for proper and mandatory labelling of all such material to avoid public confusion.
The minister said the government would continue to play its role, as it did during the period of tension with India in May, when Pakistan faced what he described as a major narrative challenge.
“Alhamdulillah, Pakistan responded effectively and won this war,” he said, adding that the prime minister had given a full mandate to address misinformation.
He also urged the Pakistan Broadcasters Association and the All Pakistan Newspapers Society to come forward and actively support efforts against fake news.
Tarar said a programme in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) was already under way in this regard.
Citing the World Economic Forum’s Global Risk Report 2024, the information minister said misinformation has been identified as the biggest short-term threat facing the world, warning that it has the potential to create widespread chaos and instability.