ISLAMABAD: Stakeholders at a multistakeholder national consultation stressed the need for digital and information literacy and collective actions for realisation of digital rights in the country.

`Pakistan has the 7th largest population of internet users in the world having more than 138 million users of 3G/4G internet. Millions use several digital platforms for multiple purposes, but majority remains absent from discussion and debate for an enabling environment for public discourse on freedom of expression, access to online information and governance reforms in digital media platforms of Pakistan, the speakers at the consultation said.

The event was jointly organised by Unesco and Institute for Research, Advocacy and Development, to formalise a constructive dialogue on Unesco Guidelines for governance of digital platforms to create a conducive environment for public discourse on freedom of expression, access to online information and governance reformsin digital media platforms. The consultation was inaugurated by Antony Kar Hung Tam, Officerin-Charge of Unesco office in Pakistan.

Mr Tam said there was aneed to tackle disinformation and harmful content while safeguarding fundamental rights, particularly freedom of expression and access to information.

`To achieve this balance, shared responsibilities and collaborative efforts from all stakeholders is needed,` he said.

Chief guest Muhammad Shahzad, Director General of Centre of Digital Communication, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Pakistan,said thatbalancinghate speechand disinformation with legitimate discourse should be an utmost priority for stakeholders.

Ahmed Shamim Pirzada, DG of the Web Analysis Division of PTA, highlighted how concerns around digital governance were a global issue and not just limited to Pakistan.

The national consultation was aimed at forging a multi-stakeholder advocacy forum to advocate for implementing recommendations collected through provincial consultations, along with developing an evidence-basedapproach to carve out a path for global dialogues complemented by regional-specific concerns on the governance of digital platforms.

The Unesco Guidelines for Governance of Digital Platforms stressed the need for an enabling environment to safeguard freedom of expression, access to information, and other human rights while ensuring a safe digital space.

The guidelines outline roles of various stakeholders: states must respect and protect human rights, digital platforms should uphold human rights, and intergovernmental organisations, civil society, media, academia, and the technical community also play crucial roles.

The guidelines propose a multistakeholder, human rights-based approach to platform governance, incorporating self-regulatory, coregulatory, and statutory mechanisms.

Representatives from academia, civil society and digital media and journalists presented re commendations, including increased cooperation between stakeholders, promotion of enhancing media and information literacy, call for better content moderation and curation by digital media platforms.