Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has said close coordination between civil and military leadership, timely dissemination of verified information, and responsible conduct by the media enabled Pakistan to effectively counter fake news and strengthen its narrative during Marka-e-Haq (The Battle of Truth) with India, last year.
Addressing a webinar titled “Truth Beyond Borders,” organized by the External Publicity Wing of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the minister said the government had deployed all available resources to ensure that accurate and verified information reached the right audience at the right time during the conflict situation last year.
“There was a lot going on and so much information was coming up that we had to deploy all our resources in order to not only verify information, but make sure that the right information is going to the right audience at the right time,” he said.
Tarar termed accurate and timely communication “absolutely crucial and important,” particularly during conflicts and rapidly evolving situations.
Referring to the tensions on the border last year, with India the minister said all divisions and departments of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting were mobilized to respond effectively and maintain a smooth flow of credible information.
He said one of the key factors behind Pakistan’s success in combating misinformation and fake news was the strong cohesion between the civil and military leadership, as well as close coordination between the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
“We had a very smooth flow of information and very accurate, which we gave out very timely to the media,” he added.
The minister also appreciated Pakistan’s media and social media users for demonstrating responsibility and unity during the conflict situation.
“I must also compliment Pakistan’s media, which played a very responsible role during that time. The social media users too,” he remarked.
Tarar said there was unity of thought and action among all stakeholders, including citizens, who stood firmly behind the armed forces and the government.
He said the collective national response enabled Pakistan to strengthen its narrative both domestically and internationally.
“We saw an exemplary display of unity which enabled us to give our narrative strength at the local and the global level,” he noted. Highlighting another factor that strengthened Pakistan’s position, the minister said the adversary lacked effective spokespersons and sufficient outreach in the international media to project its narrative effectively.
He said Pakistan emerged stronger because the information being shared was verified, accurate and based on truth.
“The main reason being that we knew that whatever information we were giving out was 100 per cent accurate, was verified, and was the truth. And the truth always prevails,” he added.
Tarar said success in conflict situations depended on creating complete cohesion and synergy among stakeholders while ensuring the dissemination of accurate information through the appropriate forums.
Recalling the events of May 6 and 7 last year, he said that when India attacked Pakistan, he addressed the international media within half an hour, while live feeds were simultaneously provided to local television channels and social media platforms.
He said timely information sharing was made possible through effective institutional coordination and support from the ISPR.
The minister said Pakistan had also established fact-checking forums and verification mechanisms that played a significant role in combating misinformation and fake news.
He noted that the creation of Pakistan’s first digital communication department had significantly strengthened the country’s ability to respond to disinformation challenges.
“Because we had the right kind of resources and systems in place, when we deployed those systems and put them to the test, we passed with flying colours,” he added.