International

ISLAMABAD, August 8 — Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has strongly criticized Indian media outlets for spreading false narratives, calling for a united national front to counter misinformation. Speaking during the question hour in the National Assembly, Tarar praised the Parliament’s firm stance during Operation Bunyaan Marsus, where lawmakers sent a clear message of solidarity with Pakistan’s armed forces. He condemned Indian media’s baseless claims, including fabricated reports that the “ports” of Lahore and Multan were destroyed. Tarar credited Pakistan’s Parliament, armed forces, and media for working together to effectively dismantle these false claims. He emphasized that both government and opposition members played a vital role in presenting Pakistan’s position across national television channels and international media platforms. The minister acknowledged the efforts of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and other political leaders for defending Pakistan’s stance globally. He noted that countering misinformation has become a pressing international challenge, especially with the rise of artificial intelligence. To strengthen these efforts, Tarar announced several government initiatives, including the Fact Checker Twitter handle, the creation of Pakistan’s first Digital Communication Department, and the launch of Fake News Buster on PTV World to expose propaganda. State-run media organizations such as PBC, PTV, APP, and PID are also actively working to detect and counter fake news. Calling for stronger institutional coordination, Tarar proposed the formation of a parliamentary committee to develop effective strategies against disinformation. He urged opposition members to actively participate, stressing that the credit for any success should belong to the National Assembly as a whole. National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq assured lawmakers that the proposal would be forwarded to the relevant Ministry of Information committee for action.