ISLAMABAD, Oct 01 (APP):Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training Wajiha Qamar has called for stronger cooperation among media institutions across CICA member states, emphasizing that responsible journalism, media literacy and meaningful cross-cultural engagement are vital to building trust in an increasingly polarized world. Representing Pakistan at the first CICA Media Forum, titled “Building Trust through Media in a Polarized World”, in Baku, Azerbaijan, Minister of State Wajiha …
Wajiha Qamar calls for stronger CICA media cooperation to build trust, counter disinformation
ISLAMABAD, Oct 01 (APP):Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training Wajiha Qamar has called for stronger cooperation among media institutions across CICA member states, emphasizing that responsible journalism, media literacy and meaningful cross-cultural engagement are vital to building trust in an increasingly polarized world.
Representing Pakistan at the first CICA Media Forum, titled “Building Trust through Media in a Polarized World”, in Baku, Azerbaijan, Minister of State Wajiha Qamar said that while social media and digital technologies have democratized communication and given millions of people a voice, they have also accelerated the spread of misinformation, disinformation and divisive narratives.
She stated that , “the media can magnify the distance between societies, or it can build bridges across that distance adding that Pakistan believes that we must choose to build bridges.”
She said the response must include credible information, stronger professional standards, greater media literacy and responsible digital citizenship.
Highlighting the importance of youth, the state minister said media literacy must increasingly become an essential component of education in the digital age.
Young people, she added, should be equipped not merely to consume information but to critically assess its credibility, understand its source and recognize content designed to divide societies.
She proposed moving towards a sustained CICA framework for media cooperation, bringing together media institutions, journalists, educators and young digital creators from across member states.
She said such a framework could facilitate journalist exchanges, joint documentaries and productions, content exchanges, youth media initiatives, collaborative digital platforms and sustained institutional dialogue, transforming the spirit of the forum into practical and enduring cooperation.
The minister emphasized greater participation of young journalists, students and digital content creators, noting that young people are increasingly becoming creators, communicators and influential voices in the digital information landscape.
She said Asia’s extraordinary cultural, linguistic and civilizational diversity should serve as a strength while shared aspirations for dignity, peace, education, opportunity and a better future for children provide a strong foundation for greater regional understanding and people-to-people connectivity.
She reaffirmed Pakistan’s readiness to work constructively with all CICA member states to advance this shared vision.
She expressed the hope that the first CICA Media Forum would be remembered as a moment when member states strengthened their collective resolve to use the power of media to build trust, deepen dialogue, celebrate diversity and bring the peoples of Asia closer together.
