ISLAMABAD: Pakistan plans to establish a National Cyber Security and Social Media Awareness Council within the next two weeks to strengthen digital literacy, coordinate responses to online threats and protect citizens from the growing risks of social media and emerging technologies.
The information and broadcasting minister announced the proposal on Thursday at the closing ceremony of a Cyber Security Awareness Week seminar in Islamabad, calling for a coordinated, year-round strategy to tackle misinformation, cybercrime and the misuse of digital platforms.
The proposed council would bring together federal ministries, provincial governments, regulatory bodies and relevant organisations, with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) potentially leading the initiative.
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Digital literacy to become part of education
The minister said Pakistan needed a unified digital literacy curriculum covering schools, colleges and universities to help students and the wider public identify misinformation, recognise online scams and respond to cyber threats.
Although universities are researching misinformation and developing fact-checking mechanisms, he said Pakistan lacked a comprehensive syllabus that could be adapted to different educational levels.
He called for digital literacy to become compulsory and proposed establishing digital literacy cells in organisations across the country. Government officers and bureaucrats should also receive training to improve their understanding of digital risks.
The minister said traditional public awareness campaigns were no longer sufficient to address the challenges posed by rapidly evolving social media platforms. Instead, targeted communication strategies using appropriate formats and micro-influencers could help reach specific audiences more effectively.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), in collaboration with the UNDP, successfully concluded Cybersecurity Awareness Week 2026 with a ceremony in Islamabad today. Held from 17th to 23rd October under the theme “Building a Safe, Secure, and Resilient Cyberspace,” the nationwide campaign promoted cyber hygiene, digital safety, and information integrity. The ceremony brought together senior government officials, international partners, telecom operators, academia, and media.
In his opening remarks, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Mr. Attaullah Tarar, emphasized responsible digital communication, stronger inter-institutional coordination, and a unified national response to cybersecurity challenges and misinformation.
He proposed the establishment of a National Cybersecurity and Social Media Awareness Council to bring together relevant government institutions, regulatory authorities, law enforcement agencies, industry, academia, and other stakeholders. He also invited recommendations to help shape the proposed council’s mandate and operational framework.
Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja in her closing remarks, underscored the importance of a secure and resilient digital ecosystem, emphasizing that cybersecurity awareness, responsible technology use, and collective action are essential to safeguarding citizens and sustaining Pakistan’s digital transformation.
Chairman PTA, Major General (R) Hafeez Ur Rehman HI (M), SI, underscored that a secure and trusted digital environment is essential for Pakistan’s digital transformation, highlighting PTA’s regulatory measures, public awareness initiatives, and collaborative efforts to address cyber threats, digital fraud, and misinformation.#PTA #CybersecurityAwarenessWeek2026 #CyberSecurity #CyberSafety #DigitalPakistan #StayCyberSafe #CyberAwareness #OnlineSafety #InformationIntegrity #DigitalSecurity #CyberHygiene #SafeCyberspace #UNDP #DigitalTransformation #FightMisinformation #CyberResilience #Pakistan
— PTA (@PTAofficialpk) October 29, 2026
Government calls for mandatory AI content labelling
The minister also urged authorities to develop regulatory frameworks requiring social media platforms to label content generated using artificial intelligence (AI), enabling users to distinguish artificially created material from authentic content.
He said TikTok was the only social media platform to have made AI labelling mandatory for its content, and called for the requirement to be incorporated into Pakistan’s regulatory framework.
Highlighting financial scams, deepfakes and online privacy risks, the minister warned that users could expose their personal information through a single click.
He said the rapid expansion of social media had outpaced Pakistan’s efforts to develop effective regulatory frameworks, creating challenges for implementation and enforcement.
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Council to coordinate cyber security institutions
The minister said Pakistan’s cyber security and social media institutions were still evolving to address emerging digital threats.
He referred to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) and the Social Media Protection and Regulation Authority (SMPRA), emphasising the need for better coordination among these bodies, the PTA and relevant government ministries.
He also acknowledged the contributions of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the PTA to policy development, regulation, implementation and public awareness.
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The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has established a Digital Communication Department to strengthen its online presence and expand its outreach at the regional level, he said. The ministry is also working with the Ministry of Information Technology and the PTA while engaging with social media platforms.
The proposed council would bring these initiatives under a coordinated, whole-of-government approach, ensuring that public awareness efforts continue throughout the year rather than being confined to occasional campaigns.
The minister said the initiative could be formally announced within a week or two, adding that the government would facilitate its establishment and invite recommendations from relevant stakeholders.
