Federal Minister Attaullah Tarar Calls for Mandatory Digital Literacy in Educational Institutions Nationwide

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has called for making digital literacy compulsory in school, college and university curricula across Pakistan, emphasizing the need to equip students with essential digital skills and protect them against online threats.

Speaking at Cybersecurity Awareness Week 2026, organized by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority under the theme “Building a Safe, Secure and Resilient Cyberspace,” the minister stressed the importance of digital education amid growing concerns over misinformation, online scams, deepfakes and AI-generated content.

Tarar proposed the establishment of a National Cybersecurity and Social Media Awareness Council involving federal ministries, provincial governments and relevant institutions to coordinate efforts against digital threats and misinformation.

He emphasized that students should be educated about responsible social media use, identifying fake news and scams, detecting deepfakes, protecting personal information and ensuring data security. He also called for regular updates to educational curricula to keep pace with rapidly evolving technology.

The minister further proposed establishing digital literacy cells in government departments and providing specialized cybersecurity training to public-sector officials and bureaucrats.

He also stressed the need for mandatory labelling of AI-generated content and deepfakes on social media platforms to improve transparency and help users distinguish authentic information from manipulated material.

Tarar highlighted the establishment of Pakistan’s first Digital Communication Department within the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, describing digital awareness and cybersecurity education as essential for building a safer and more responsible digital society.