President for discouraging fake news, disinformation

Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari has underlined the need for discouraging the dissemination of fake news and disinformation by promoting a culture of fact checking and verifying information.

He was talking to Chairman Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Muhammad Saleem, who called on him in Islamabad today.  The Chairman PEMRA presented PEMRA Report 2021-23 to the President during the meeting.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said that the media should uphold the highest standards of journalism and play its role in promoting tolerance, unity and ethical values in the society.

The President said that modern communication technologies have opened up new challenges and the media needs to play a responsible and constructive role in shaping public opinion.

He said that a code of conduct regarding the spread of misinformation and propaganda should be observed.

The President stressed the need to improve the capacity of PEMRA by adopting modern tools and technologies and building a pool of talented human resources.

He remarked that the media should also raise awareness about socio-economic issues, besides promoting a soft image of the country.

On the occasion, Chairman PEMRA briefed the President about the role and performance of PEMRA in the regulation and development of the media landscape of the country.

The President affirmed his support to further strengthen PEMRA.