ISLAMABAD, Aug 11 (APP):Minister of State/Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Digital Media (SAPM) Fahd Haroon said that digital media has immense potential to empower youth, promote innovation and help build a more informed, responsible and connected society. Addressing a gathering at the first meeting of August of the Rotary Club of Islamabad Metropolitan (RCIM) in Islamabad, he said the digital revolution had created unprecedented opportunities for Pakistan’s young …
Digital media can help build informed, responsible society: MoS/SAPM Fahd Haroon
ISLAMABAD, Aug 11 (APP):Minister of State/Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Digital Media (SAPM) Fahd Haroon said that digital media has immense potential to empower youth, promote innovation and help build a more informed, responsible and connected society.
Addressing a gathering at the first meeting of August of the Rotary Club of Islamabad Metropolitan (RCIM) in Islamabad, he said the digital revolution had created unprecedented opportunities for Pakistan’s young population, enabling them to acquire skills, access global knowledge, showcase their talent and connect with economic opportunities beyond geographical boundaries.
He said smartphones had evolved from being merely communication tools into classrooms, workplaces, marketplaces and news platforms, providing young people with access to education, employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.
“Digital media can provide our youth with a powerful platform to learn new skills, access global knowledge, showcase their talent, build businesses and connect with opportunities beyond geographical boundaries,” he said.
The SAPM said a young person sitting in any part of Pakistan could now learn from leading institutions and experts in Pakistan and around the world, work for companies locally or internationally, launch a startup, pursue freelancing opportunities and introduce Pakistani creativity and innovation to the global audience.
However, he stressed that the role of digital media extended beyond economic opportunities, as it could also contribute to strengthening social cohesion and promoting informed national discourse.
He urged young people to use digital platforms not only for consuming content but also for creating knowledge, promoting innovation, highlighting positive stories about Pakistan and contributing constructively to society.
At the same time, he cautioned that greater digital access also brought greater responsibility, with misinformation, online hate and cyberbullying posing serious challenges to social harmony.
He stressed the need to promote digital literacy alongside digital access, enabling young people to distinguish facts from misinformation, engage respectfully online, protect their digital identities and use technology responsibly.
SAPM observed that digital media had also transformed the way countries communicate with each other, noting that a country’s image was increasingly shaped through content viewed by audiences across the world.
He said Pakistani students, entrepreneurs, professionals and digital content creators could play an important role in projecting the country’s talent, culture and potential internationally.
“We need to build a digital Pakistan that empowers rather than divides; educates rather than misinforms; connects rather than isolates; and creates opportunities rather than barriers,” he said.
He called for greater collaboration among the government, private sector, educational institutions, civil society and organizations such as the Rotary Club to provide young people with skills, mentorship, opportunities and platforms to turn their ideas into meaningful contributions.
Fahd Haroon said empowering youth through digital platforms would ultimately contribute to strengthening Pakistan’s economy and its presence in the global community.
“Because when we empower our youth, we empower Pakistan,” he concluded.
