Islamabad: A four-day training workshop titled "Fake News" concluded today at the Pakistan Broadcasting Academy in Islamabad, equipping officers of Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) with vital skills in responsible journalism and combating disinformation. Officers from Rawalpindi and Islamabad attended the course in person, while the participants from across the country joined via video link.

According to Radio Pakistan, the training was aimed to strengthen the editorial integrity of the state broadcaster by addressing the growing challenge of misinformation, especially on social media. Speaking at the closing ceremony, Director General of PBC, Saeed Ahmed Shaikh, emphasized the importance of resisting disinformation and propaganda, particularly in the wake of the recent Pakistan-India stand-off. He outlined how digital falsehoods are constructed, amplified, and embedded into public discourse, urging media professionals to counter these narratives with accuracy and professionalism.

Guest speakers included senior journalist and television anchor Shaukat Paracha, as well as Head of the Media Studies Department at Bahria University, Dr. Syed Qamar Abbas. Their sessions shed light on the role of online misinformation in fueling political polarization and spreading hate speech, often designed to create division within society.

Principal of the Pakistan Broadcasting Academy, Dr. Javed Khattak, expressed gratitude to the experts and participants. He voiced confidence that the training would empower Radio Pakistan's officers to navigate the digital landscape more responsibly and effectively counter fake news across platforms.