STAFF REPORT
PESHAWAR: Press Information Department (PID) under the leadership of Director General, PID, Ms. Tahira Saeeda and Project Director, Counter Violent Extremism (CVE), Mr. Shahid Imran Ranjha organised a seminar on “Disinformation and Digital Media Literacy: Navigating Truth in the Age of Social Media” today on 16th Oct, 2025.
The event was hosted by the Dedicated Media
Cell to Counter Violent Extremism (CVE), established as part of Pakistan’s National Security Policy implementation plan.
Mr. Tariq Waheed, Bureau Chief HUM News delivered a comprehensive talk on the
origins, creation, and impact of fake news in the digital age. He explained how misinformation,
disinformation, and mal-information are generated by manipulating information and how AI-generated content and social media algorithms amplify false narratives. He highlighted the destructive societal impact of fake news and echo chambers.
Mr. Tariq Waheed urged youth to verify content before sharing, protect their data, and be mindful of their digital footprints. He introduced fact-checking tools such as Hive Moderation, Deepware, FotoForensics, InVid, and Google Reverse Image Search, encouraging their use to counter digital manipulation. Mr. Tariq Waheed urged students to play a proactive role by verifying information before sharing, reporting fake content, and relying on credible fact-checking sources and learn digital ethics to stay sane in the Age of misinformation.
Assistant Professor Dr. Irfan Ashraf, highlighted the issue of political economy behind
disinformation. He elaborated the historical context of misinformation with the emergence of
electronic media especially during and after World wars. Mr. Ashraf also advised participants to stay vigilant against politically backed propaganda and disinformation.
Saba Hameed Content Strategist CVE emphasized that the CVE Media Cell is integral to the country’s strategic communication framework which is recognized as a pillar of national security.
She highlighted that CVE’s mission is to support the government in combating intolerance and
promoting peace through research, advocacy, and strategic communication. Ms. Saba Hameed underscored the importance of indigenous research focused on monitoring extremist narratives, disinformation, and public sentiment, leading to evidence-based institutional reporting and community outreach initiatives.
The session concluded with an interactive panel discussion led by Ms. Shanzay Minhal,
Policy Coordinator CVE, Tariq Waheed (Bureau Chief, HUM news) and Sayed Irfan Ashraf
(Assistant Professor). The discussion focused on identifying recurring patterns in disinformation
campaigns within Pakistan and exploring effective strategies for building public resilience against false narratives. The seminar reaffirmed the commitment of the CVE Media Cell to fostering digital literacy, promoting truthful communication, and supporting peaceful discourse through evidence-based policymaking and awareness initiatives.
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