NK MONITORING DESK
BAKU, Azerbaijan: Pakistan is urging Developing-8 member states to create a shared fact-checking system to combat the spread of misinformation, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said during the D-8 Media Forum in Baku.
The annual gathering brings together media officials and experts from the bloc’s eight Muslim-majority developing nations — Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, 0Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Türkiye — to strengthen collaboration in digital communication, media standards and information management.
Tarar emphasised that as Pakistan is set to take over the rotating D-8 secretary-generalship in January 2026, it is important for member states to adopt a unified strategy amid rapid changes in the global information space.
“The fight against fake and misleading content has become critical,” he said, noting that Pakistan has put forward a proposal for a common D-8 social media presence that would expose fabricated news and promote factual reporting.
The Baku forum this year centred on improving journalistic capacity, newsroom preparedness and professional ethics across the eight countries, particularly as media organisations deal with increasingly sophisticated online misinformation campaigns.
Tarar suggested that joint digital platforms could also be used to highlight development successes, challenge extremist narratives and counter Islamophobia. He said Pakistan’s own recent digital reforms — including improvements to tax systems — showed how technology can help build trust in public institutions.
Responding to questions about concerns raised by Pakistan’s media community regarding censorship, Tarar maintained that the country enjoys robust press freedoms.
“Pakistan has a very vibrant and free media landscape,” he said. “People can express themselves openly, but when it comes to national security and the stability of state institutions, there must be consensus.”
He added that while political criticism is welcomed, defamation laws and media regulations remain in place to ensure responsible reporting.
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