Pakistan Urged to Build Fake News Defence System

News Desk

Islamabad: Experts at a national conference have called for a comprehensive strategy to address the growing challenge of fake news and disinformation, warning that the spread of misleading information has become a major threat to national security, social stability and economic development.

The conference titled “Global Politics in the Age of Disinformation: Where Pakistan Stands” was organised by the Islamabad Institute of Conflict Resolution (IICR), where speakers discussed the impact of information warfare and the need for stronger institutional responses.

Participants said modern conflicts are no longer limited to traditional battlefields, with information increasingly being used as a tool to influence public opinion, create divisions and damage state interests.

IICR Executive Director Sabah Aslam highlighted the role of misinformation and disinformation in what she described as fifth-generation warfare, stressing the need for greater awareness and preparedness.

Legal Director at CMS Cameron McKenna Hassan Aslam Shad said disinformation had emerged as one of the most challenging forms of modern conflict, as ordinary citizens can unknowingly become channels for spreading false information.

He called for the development of an effective state-level mechanism to identify, monitor and counter fake news while ensuring a coordinated response.

Policy consultant and Director of Geopolitical Research at Command Eleven Shahid Raza said information operations had become closely linked with broader hybrid warfare strategies.

He claimed that Pakistan faces sophisticated propaganda campaigns from hostile actors and presented a counter-disinformation model focused on identifying sources of false narratives, monitoring responses and preparing effective countermeasures.

Discussing the economic impact of misinformation, WiXeman Global CEO Noaman Abdul Majid said disinformation campaigns could disrupt businesses, damage investor confidence and create wider social consequences.

He called for legislation that would enable timely action against harmful misinformation while maintaining necessary safeguards.

Dr Salma Malik said disinformation often targets educated segments of society by influencing perceptions and narratives. She stressed the importance of accurate historical understanding in strengthening national identity.

Dr Amna Mahmood urged the government to launch public awareness campaigns against fake news and suggested involving university students in discussions and initiatives aimed at building resistance against misinformation.

Advocate Supreme Court India and Executive Director of Legal Forum for Kashmir Nasir Qadri highlighted what he termed the “misinformation, disinformation and hate speech” triangle, warning that these forms of information manipulation can fuel social tensions.

He called for a clear policy framework to address the challenges associated with harmful digital content and improve understanding of the risks posed by weaponised information.

Speakers agreed that combating disinformation requires cooperation between government institutions, academia, legal experts, media organisations and the public to develop a more resilient information environment.