The Digital Dialogue: Freedom Network convenes stakeholders for Internet governance, media sustainability

ISLAMABAD: Human rights activist and former Senator Farhatullah Babar said on Friday that access to digital spaces and uninterrupted Internet should also be fundamental rights alongside citizens’ existing right to information.

He was delivering the keynote address at The Digital Dialogue, a summit on public interest media, technology and digital citizenship organized by Freedom Network in Islamabad, which brought together over 50 experts and practitioners from the fields of digital journalism, the tech sector, academia and civil society to talk about solutions for shaping Pakistan’s digital future.

Babar urged the participants to take the conversation to the relevant parliamentary committees to explain the pitfalls and best practices of Internet governance, emphasizing the need to broaden the discussion on a legal framework for digital rights and ensure the inclusion of all stakeholders in this dialogue.

Iqbal Khattak, the Executive Director of Freedom Network, said the summit was intended to provide a collaborative forum for voices ignored in media and Internet policy and aims to foster dialogue on the challenges and opportunities for Pakistan’s digital media and tech sectors,” he said. “We are meeting at a time when equitable access and progressive policies are needed to help Pakistan prepare for its digital future.”

The summit also saw the launch of the Pakistan Digital Transformation Report 2024, published by Freedom Network and IDRAC (Ideas for Development, Research and Change).

While introducing the report’s findings, media development expert Adnan Rehmat, the author of the report, said Pakistan is one of the world’s 10 most digitalized societies in terms of the number of people with Internet access and social media users. “Pakistan has a stated policy of aiding and fast-tracking digitalization of democracy, governance, economy and social development,” he said.

“The country’s journey toward deep and irreversible digital transformation has been gaining momentum in recent years. Rehmat said some of the key achievements related to digital transformation have been economic growth and innovation.

“The increasing digitalization of government departments and online government services for citizens and the IT-enabled services sector have exhibited tremendous potential to improve governance; drive economic growth, foster innovation and improve the quality of life through digital transformation,” he said. He also listed key challenges during the year such as the still-limited infrastructure and inadequate investments that are preventing the realization of a digital society. “This includes a dichotomous approach to viewing access to the Internet as a key priority for the national digitalization drive including the digital economy and yet also myopically seeing the Internet as a dangerous power in the hands of people when it comes to freedom of expression and democratic engagement online,” he added.

The report ranked setbacks with the overall negative impact that hindered the digital transformation process during 2024 in the domains of digital freedom of expression and right to information, content regulation and privacy concerns, digital politics, digital economy, Internet, and investments in tech entrepreneurism.

The summit also featured discussions on digital media viability, online citizenship, tech sector collaboration and public interest journalism for marginalised communities. At the summit panel on the financial sustainability of independent digital news media, panellists discussed strategies for diversifying revenues.

Talha Ahad, the CEO of Centrum Media, said digital media outlets must understand the value they can offer through their journalism and never compromise on content quality because it leads to credibility with the audience and revenue.

Media viability strategist Momina Mindeel said digital media need to collaborate and explore innovative ways to engage with their audiences including through offline events. Arsalan Ali, the co-founder and CEO of Times of Karachi, said investment and advertising opportunities are available for digital media but they need to be consistent in their news operations to benefit from these chances.

The panel on digital citizenship discussed meaningful online participation for citizens. Digital rights activist Usama Khilji said it is important to hold the government accountable because cyber laws are selectively implemented to infringe upon the rights of the public rather than using a citizen-centric approach that respects digital rights.

Digital expert Usman Zafar said it is important to include education on digital critical thinking in the curriculum so young people can learn which online information is good and which is harmful.

“People are genuinely confused about finding information online and they want to know where to look for it,” he said. “Education, sensitization and skill-building in digital literacy are the steps we should take.”

Journalist Qurrat ul Ain Shirazi said the local digital news media do not have the support and resources that international digital media possess so they have to make extra efforts to provide ethical and reliable information, otherwise calls for their regulation will increase.

The panel on collaborative pathways saw participation from the financial and tech sectors and civil society representatives. Laraib Farhat, manager of policy and government relations at P@SHA, said a consultative process for digital policymaking is often ignored in Pakistan.

“We should strike a balance between the need for regulation and for facilitation,” Ms. Farhat said. “We should not regulate so much that we choke society.”

Mutaher Khan, a business journalist and founder of Data Darbar, said incentives for digital startup growth are still missing and the growth potential is further affected by external factors such as Internet slowdowns and app bans. “The media and civil society must engage with the tech sector in order for their interventions to be scaled up,” he said.

Mubariz Siddiqui, a tech lawyer and entrepreneur, said Pakistan is still far from global standards in its digital policies. He said the compliance procedures for foreign investment in technology continue to be so intrusive that they discourage potential investors. “A little foresight can help Pakistan avoid the negative impact of its digital policies on trade,” he said.

IRADA programme manager Salwa Rana said the policy intent of control continues to prevail about Internet governance rather than considerations for safe and open Internet access.