Pakistan Information Minister Attaullah Tarar calls for a National Cyber Security and Social Media Awareness Council to coordinate a whole-of-government response to cyber threats and misinformation, recognizing it as a top modern challenge.

Tarar warns that misinformation and fake news threaten privacy and safety online, urging ongoing public awareness campaigns and stronger digital literacy across society.

He stresses incorporating digital literacy into school curricula and regularly updating it, with a focus on safe social media use and data privacy for children.

Public awareness should be continuous and audience-tailored, leveraging micro-influencers to reach specific communities.

UNDP support and collaboration on training and capacity-building is acknowledged, advocating a whole-of-government approach involving regulators, public institutions, and platforms.

The government will collaborate with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, PTA, and UNDP to address digital threats and safeguard the online environment.

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Pakistan’s shift from traditional to digital media has created regulatory gaps, prompting policy action.

Tarar urges compulsory digital literacy across all education levels and the creation of digital literacy cells in government to train officials, with a research-based, regularly updated curriculum covering misinformation, online scams, deepfakes, privacy, and data protection.

Outreach should extend beyond schools to all citizens through public campaigns, ensuring the curriculum evolves with technology.

Proposes mandatory labeling of AI-generated content on social media and uses targeted messaging with micro-influencers and specialized platforms to improve transparency.

The council would run year-round digital safety and literacy initiatives, with PTA leading consultations to finalize the plan.