Honored to meet Madam Nazakat Shakila, Station Director, Lahore, Radio Pakistan, the second oldest radio station in Pakistan, established in 1937, and a very seasoned radio broadcaster and deputy controller Sir Javed Akhter, who is also heading Dhanak Radio.
Both are distinguished voices in Pakistan’s public broadcasting landscape, bringing decades of on-ground experience in content production, editorial leadership, and audience engagement. Madam Nazakat, in particular, has long championed the role of community radio and public service media in reflecting the diverse cultures and languages of Pakistani society.
Madam Nazakat was also elected as Executive Board Chairperson for AIBD in 2018 and has since worked on various international projects, contributing significantly to regional media development across Asia-Pacific.
The discussions were centered around AIBD’s fake news initiative for member countries, public broadcasting in Pakistan, and its capacity building priorities. In a media environment increasingly shaped by social platforms and viral misinformation, public broadcasters like Radio Pakistan play a critical role, not just in news delivery, but in providing trusted, fact-based content to audiences who rely on them.
We explored how disinformation is uniquely affecting Pakistani society, from health misinformation to politically motivated narratives, and the responsibility that public media institutions carry in countering these trends through credible journalism, media literacy outreach, and editorial standards.
Capacity building remains at the heart of this work. Equipping journalists, editors, and broadcast professionals with the tools to identify, verify, and responsibly report on disinformation is no longer optional, it is essential. AIBD’s regional initiatives aim to support member countries in building these capabilities in a structured, sustainable way.
Conversations like this reinforce why regional collaboration matters. The insights shared by practitioners like Madam Nazakat and Sir Javed Akhter, rooted in real-world broadcasting challenges, are invaluable in shaping training programs and policy recommendations that are relevant, practical, and impactful.