Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has proposed the establishment of a National Cyber Security and Social Media Awareness Council, along with mandatory labelling of artificial intelligence-generated content, at the inaugural ceremony of Cyber Security Awareness Week 2026 in Islamabad on October 31, 2026.
What happened?
Speaking at the ceremony, organised by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) under the theme “Building a Safe, Secure and Resilient Cyberspace”, the minister proposed a council that would bring together federal ministries and divisions, provincial governments, regulatory authorities and other relevant institutions to develop a coordinated national response to cyber security challenges. He suggested that stakeholders include the proposal in the event’s concluding declaration and hold consultations within one to two weeks, with the PTA steering the process.
Key details
- The proposed council would coordinate awareness initiatives throughout the year, rather than limiting public engagement to occasional campaigns, and would work alongside institutions including the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) and the Social Media Protection and Regulation Authority.
- Digital literacy would become a compulsory part of education, from primary school through college and university, with research-based content updated regularly to keep pace with technological change. Dedicated digital literacy cells would also be set up in government organisations to train officials in identifying and responding to digital threats.
- AI-generated content on social media would have to be labelled, so users can distinguish synthetic material from authentic content. The minister noted that TikTok had already made AI content labelling mandatory among social media platforms.
- The minister pointed to risks including financial scams, deepfakes and online privacy breaches, and said citizens needed to understand how a single click could expose personal information.
- Awareness campaigns would move beyond conventional mass communication to targeted messaging tailored to specific audiences, including through micro-influencers and specialised digital platforms.
- The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has established Pakistan’s first dedicated digital communication department, with fact-checking mechanisms and a team focused on the fast-changing digital information environment.
What it means for people in Pakistan
For students, social media users and public servants, the proposals point to digital safety becoming a regular part of education and workplace training, and to clearer labels on AI-generated posts and videos. If adopted, the council would give Pakistan a single coordinated forum for online safety awareness, helping people spot scams, deepfakes and misinformation more easily.
