A two-day seminar concluded by the Friedrich Nauman Foundation for Freedom (FNF-Pakistan) on Sunday aimed to capacitate journalists on the use of Right to Information laws for investigative reporting and countering fake news. The seminar emphasized the importance of the Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act, 2013, in promoting transparency and accountability in the provincial government.
Syed Raza Ali, Program Manager of FNF Pakistan, highlighted the constitutional guarantee of access to information under Article 19A and explained the five RTI laws in Pakistan. He emphasized the role of journalists as representatives of the people in using RTI to investigate and publicize information of public interest.
Mr. Ubaid Ur Rehman, a rights activist, stressed the importance of critical thinking in countering fake news. He urged journalists to adhere to professional standards and ethics to avoid publishing unchecked information and emphasized the need for investment in critical thinking to limit the risks of disinformation posed by emerging technologies.
Saeed Akhtar Ansari, former information commissioner of the Punjab Information Commission, encouraged journalists to exercise their right of access to information for investigative stories. Uzma Kardar, PMA, concluded the seminar by urging journalists to use RTI as a tool for countering fake news.
Over 30 journalists, rights activists, and students attended the seminar and commended FNF-Pakistan’s efforts in organizing such a training session. They called on journalists’ organizations to conduct similar sessions for young journalists to promote investigative reporting.
