By: Qamar Bashir

Yesterday (22.06.2024), the Prime Minister read a statement during a high-level apex meeting held to seek his approval for the new and updated National Action Plan. He read the written statement placed before him verbatim, whereas he usually prefers to speak extempore using lofty words that often recycle. Part of his statement, loaded with expressions that have future consequences on freedom of expression, speech, and press, conveyed the message of upcoming laws, rules, and regulations intended to further curb the already limited freedom of expression, speech, and press in the country, despite being unrelated to curbing terrorism.

Unlike his usual self, he ensured that he read each and every word placed before him. He stated, “For a long time, Pakistan’s social space has been bloodied by enemies of the country to create conflict among our people, spread confusion, and distort and stigmatize the national narrative, bringing, God forbid, disrepute to the country. Under the constitution, everyone has freedom of speech and freedom of expression, but it’s wrongful use, flouting and tearing apart the constitution, and spewing venom against Pakistan’s progress, development, security, and stability could not be a bigger crime against the nation and the country.”

He continued, saying, “We will make new laws and rules to ensure that the government’s voice is made stronger…to ensure that the true story of the country is heard by everyone, making sure that misinformation and lies cannot hide the truth.” Referring to his visit to China, he said that enemies from outside the country and friends like enemies within the country use filth and dirty campaigns to undermine the successful outcome of the visit.

He added, “Therefore, we will bring such laws and rules that can stop this irregularity and hateful speech, putting an end to efforts aimed at creating division within the nation…..let us decide with full determination and resolve to implement those plans…and lay the foundation of prosperity and development.

The key word used here is “enemy.” The enemy could be foreign countries, our immediate neighboring countries, foreign intelligence agencies, or it could be those Pakistanis who allegedly were blamed for attacking the armed forces’ installations on May 9th. In plain terms, this includes PTI leadership considered as masterminds, the workers, supporters, and activists who abetted, facilitated, and executed the attacks, and all those political activists who are criticizing the government and armed forces of Pakistan on social media from within the country and outside the country.

If this is the scenario, then all the foreign governments and foreign agencies and Pakistani expatriates operating outside the country, who allegedly are poisoning the social space, will be outside the jurisdiction of the purported new laws, rules, and regulations. Therefore, for all practical purposes, these laws will be made only for those Pakistanis who are still residing within the country.

Common logic dictates that the people of a country, no matter how gravely and contemptuously the sitting government and its institutions perceive them, should not and cannot be termed as enemies. Therefore, the Prime Minister should have used proper and appropriate vocabulary while distinguishing foreign elements hostile to the country and domestic critics.

He could have rephrased it as follows: “While foreign adversaries seek to undermine our nation’s stability, we must also consider the impact of domestic actions that can weaken our collective resolve. Criticism is a fundamental right enshrined in our constitution, but when it crosses the line into spreading misinformation and inciting division, it becomes detrimental to our progress and security. Therefore we will introduce measures to target the malicious use of media by those seeking to harm Pakistan’s interests, both externally and internally.

Another question which arises is that given the existence of over 52 laws that directly and indirectly govern the media, and which have already granted extraordinary powers to both Federal and Provincial governments to control traditional and social media, often using brute state power to target journalists and media persons without following official procedures, and considering that Pakistan is already ranked 150th out of 180 countries on the Freedom of Press Index, what additional powers and actions does the government thinking to acquire by enacting new laws?

Hypothetically, presuming that the government might be thinking of introducing the National Media Regulation and Accountability Act aimed at enhancing licensing and registration requirements for all media organizations, including digital platforms. The licensing process could involve stringent vetting criteria to ensure compliance with national security standards, granting the government greater control over which entities are allowed to operate.

One component of the act could be to require all media outlets, including social media platforms, to implement government-approved content moderation tools to filter and remove content deemed harmful or seditious in real-time.

Additionally, media organizations could be required to submit periodic reports on their content moderation activities to a central regulatory body enabling the government to maintain oversight of media content and ensure that potentially harmful information is swiftly addressed.

The act may also include national security and public order clauses that criminalize the dissemination of any content which criticizes the armed forces and government. Violations would result in severe penalties, including heavy fines, suspension of licenses, and imprisonment for responsible individuals to serve as a deterrent against the publication of content that the government deems harmful.

The government may establish a National Media Oversight Committee comprising government officials, security agency representatives, and select civil society members aligned with the government’s interests to enforce regulations, issue fines, and recommend the suspension of licenses.

Additionally, the government would fast-track the establishment of special media courts to handle cases of non-compliance swiftly and to ensure that actions against media entities are executed efficiently, minimizing delays in enforcement.

Government in partnership with technology firms is and will invest in advanced surveillance and content analysis technologies to monitor media activities comprehensively to  further strengthen the government’s oversight mechanism and  maintain robust control over media content ensuring that national security and public order are maintained.

While these measures would enable the government to control and filter content that it perceives as contemptuous and against its vested interests, they would simultaneously gravely wound one of the most important pillars of the state: the media, an indispensable pillar of a vibrant and functional democracy.

By: Qamar Bashir

Former Press Secretary to the President

Former Press Minister to the Embassy of Pakistan to France

Former MD, SRBC

Dr. Muhammad AkramZaheer

          American exceptionalism is a deeply rooted belief that has significantly influenced the way the United States engages with the world. This belief, held by many Americans, posits that the United States has a unique and special role in history and occupies a distinctive position in the global order. This sense of exceptionalism has historically guided U.S. policymakers in their approach to international affairs. American exceptionalism is based on the idea that the United States is fundamentally different from other countries. This ideology suggests that the U.S. has a mission to spread its values, such as democracy and human rights, around the world. However, this belief often leads to complex ethical and moral dilemmas for U.S. policymakers when they are dealing with global issues.One of the main consequences of American exceptionalism is that it sometimes results in actions that prioritize U.S. interests, even when these actions are presented as efforts to promote democracy and human rights. For example, when the United States intervenes in other countries, it often justifies its actions by claiming to support democratic principles. Yet, in reality, these interventions frequently aim to maintain or enhance America’s own status and power on the global stage.This contradiction between the stated ideals and the actual actions of the United States can lead to negative perceptions. While the U.S. portrays itself as a global force for good, striving to uphold and spread democratic values, other countries and international observers often see American actions as self-serving. They perceive the U.S. as more interested in preserving its own influence and status quo rather than genuinely promoting democracy and human rights.This dual nature of American exceptionalism has profound implications for U.S. foreign policy. On one hand, it drives the United States to take active roles in international conflicts and global governance, advocating for democratic values and human rights. On the other hand, it leads to criticism and skepticism about the true motives behind U.S. actions. For instance, when the U.S. engages in military interventions or imposes economic sanctions, it often claims to be acting in the interest of global stability and justice. However, critics argue that such actions are more about securing American geopolitical and economic interests than about altruistic concerns.The idea of American exceptionalism involves a continuous balancing act between how the nation views itself, moral issues, and ethical dilemmas. This concept means that the United States often sees itself as unique or special compared to other countries. However, this self-view brings a lot of responsibilities and challenges, especially for lawmakers.

One major challenge is balancing respect for other countries’ independence while also promoting democratic values. This is a tough moral issue because it involves deciding when or if it is right to get involved in other nations’ affairs. Lawmakers often struggle with whether it’s justified to interfere in other countries and how far they should go in using military power. They must figure out how to reconcile America’s global influence and interests with the sovereignty of other nations.When America tries to promote its values worldwide, it can sometimes lead to conflicts. Other countries might see these efforts as a threat to their own political systems and sovereignty. As international relations change and become more complex, new ethical concerns arise. Lawmakers need to constantly rethink their strategies and policies to adapt to these changes.Adapting to the evolving nature of global politics is a continuous challenge for lawmakers. They need to uphold democratic norms while also considering and respecting the diverse perspectives of other countries. Maintaining a balance between exerting American influence and recognizing the independence of other nations is a difficult task in a world that is always changing.

American exceptionalism is about how the U.S. views itself and its role in the world. It involves many moral and ethical challenges, especially for those who make the laws. They must carefully navigate the delicate balance between promoting American values and respecting other nations’ sovereignty. This task is made even harder by the constantly changing nature of international relations.

Amina AG

In an era marked by globalization and rapid technological advancements, the relationship between gender dynamics and technology continues to exhibit signs of deep-rooted patriarchy. This issue is particularly significant in the context of the adoption and integration of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) across diverse cultural landscapes. Factors such as technology access, educational pathways, cultural norms, gender equity initiatives, and techno-activism all play crucial roles in the adoption and utilization of AI. However, generative AI currently tends to predominantly represent males, leading to a skewed perception of professional roles. For instance, when searching for images of professionals in fields like law, medicine, engineering, or scientific research, AI-generated results overwhelmingly depict men. This bias in representation highlights the nuanced intersections between gender identity and the adoption of advanced technologies like GAI, which have profound implications for both present and future generations. Addressing these issues is essential to ensure a more equitable and inclusive technological future.

Significant research findings indicate substantial gender bias in GAI, particularly in professions traditionally dominated by men. For example, studies have shown that men are represented in 76% of AI-generated images of professionals, while women appear in only 8% (A. M. Gorska and D. Jemielniak, 2023). This disparity not only highlights but also potentially exacerbates existing gender inequalities in society. The underrepresentation of women in AI-generated content suggests a reinforcement of gender stereotypes that can influence societal perceptions and career aspirations. It is crucial that women are included and acknowledged for their presence and contributions to the advancement, design, and implementation of AI technologies. The gendered nature of technology, especially generative AI, becomes apparent when examining recent studies, which show that 99% of AI-generated images of professionals depict men. This alarming underrepresentation of women suggests that generative AI could perpetuate gender biases and male dominance in professional fields.Moreover, certain systems affect the physical and mental well-being of women and non-binary individuals. Gender-biased systems used in healthcare, welfare, and the automotive industry, in particular, pose significant risks. Approximately 18.8% of gender-biased systems compromise physical safety, while 3.42% create health hazards. These statistics underscore the urgent need to address gender biases within AI to protect the well-being of all users.The adoption of GAI wills likely impact gender perceptions in future generations, who will rely on AI for educational and other purposes. This reliance on AI-generated content may reinforce male dominance and potentially hinder women’s empowerment. Consequently, this issue necessitates a strategic and multifaceted approach to address and mitigate these biases. Technologists, policymakers, educators, and all stakeholders must collaborate to build a platform for women’s empowerment and ensure that AI technologies reflect diverse and balanced representations. In the realm of socio-economic development, especially within the context of Pakistan, there exists a pressing demand for inclusive growth, with a particular emphasis on the empowerment of women. Gendered AI could exacerbate gender inequality, making inclusive progress in technology essential for the equitable development of society.Highlighting the need for a more intersectional and inclusive approach in AI advancement, especially in AI-generated images, is imperative. This approach must consider how gender intersects with other dimensions of power and oppression, such as race, class, and ability. Ensuring that the experiences of marginalized groups, including women of color, transgender individuals, and people with disabilities, are adequately addressed within feminist techno science studies is vital. An inclusive approach will help achieve the goals of women’s empowerment, societal justice, economic growth, and creating space for everyone. Empowering and encouraging more women and all genders to take visible roles in all realms of life will be instrumental in driving forward societal and technological progress. This comprehensive strategy involves revising the algorithms and datasets used in AI training and fostering a culture that values and promotes gender diversity in the tech industry.To address these disparities, we must take a holistic approach that includes enhancing technology access for all genders, promoting inclusive educational pathways, challenging cultural norms that reinforce gender biases, and strengthening gender equity initiatives. It is also essential to support techno-activism efforts that advocate for fair representation in AI. Generative AI has the potential to shape societal perceptions significantly. Therefore, its development and implementation must prioritize inclusivity. Policymakers, technologists, educators, and activists must collaborate to create frameworks that ensure AI technologies reflect diverse and balanced representations. This involves not only revising the algorithms and datasets used in AI training but also fostering a culture that values and promotes gender diversity in the tech industry.Moreover, addressing the gender biases inherent in GAI is critical for achieving broader goals of gender equality and empowerment. If left unchecked then these biases can perpetuate and even exacerbate existing inequalities, hindering progress toward a more just and equitable society. Therefore, it is imperative to incorporate intersectional approaches that consider how gender intersects with other dimensions of power and oppression. By actively working to eliminate gender bias in GAI and other technologies, we can pave the way for a future where technology serves as a tool for empowerment rather than a mechanism of exclusion. This will not only benefit women but also enrich the technological landscape by bringing diverse perspectives and ideas to the forefront.Ultimately, achieving gender parity in technology, especially in emerging fields like GAI, requires concerted efforts from all sectors of society. By fostering an environment that encourages and supports the participation of all genders, we can ensure that the advancements in AI and other technologies are truly reflective of our diverse world and contribute to a more inclusive and equitable future for everyone. This inclusive vision of technological development holds the promise of a future where all individuals, regardless of gender, have the opportunity to contribute to and benefit from the digital transformation that is shaping our world. By addressing these issues comprehensively, we can create a more equitable and just society, where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and succeed in the technological age. Prioritizing gender equity and justice as primary goals for AI systems can create a downstream impact on design and management decisions, fostering a technological landscape that benefits all.

Amina AG

Sr. Engineer Projects & Operations

[email protected]

Lahore, Pakistan.

Ramzidin Nuridinov

Libraries play a key role in education, culture, and community development, providing an invaluable resource for accessing knowledge, preserving cultural heritage, and promoting intellectual growth. In the modern information society, they remain an important institution that promotes the education and self-development of people of all ages.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasised during the opening ceremony of the People’s Library under the President of the Republic of Turkey in Ankara: “Intellectual potential, high morale is what makes a nation strong. The source of this invincible power is books and libraries – the great invention of mankind”.

At the present stage, education has become one of the most important areas of state policy. The government of the Republic of Uzbekistan pays special attention to the development of this sphere, recognizing its key role in the prosperity of the country. In recent years, the republic has achieved significant success in the educational domain. These achievements are aimed at modernizing the system, improving the quality of education and training, and expanding access to education for all citizens of the country.

At the same time, special attention is paid to the promotion of reading and the fostering of the reading culture of the population. And in the Presidential Decree adopted on September 13, 2017, “On the program of comprehensive measures to develop the system of publishing and distributing book products, improving the culture of reading”, clear goals are outlined for the creation of an effective system of information and library services to the population, which served to move this area to a new stage of development and contributed to raising the level of social and information culture and the role of libraries, made it possible to develop and implement modern innovative and educational technologies that increase the competitiveness of Uzbekistan in the world market.

In addition, the Presidential Decree “On further improvement of information and library services for the population of the Republic of Uzbekistan” was adopted on June 7, 2019. The main goals of the decree are:

improving the regulatory framework in order to ensure high-quality social guarantees to the population for information and library services;
development of information and library institutions taking into account modern requirements;
promoting the sustainable development of information and library services the for population in the regions;
strengthening the material and technical base of information and library institutions;
development of public-private partnerships in the library sector, a network of private and electronic libraries;
expanding cooperation with Internet resources that specialize in distributing electronic books to improve the efficiency of libraries and the efficiency of servicing (including paid) users;
ensuring the safety of information and library institutions and the safety of information and library collections as part of the national and world cultural heritage;
formation and enhancement of the information culture of society, sustainable interest in national history and culture, enhancement and promotion of a reading culture;
staffing information and library institutions with qualified specialists.
The adoption of this decree expands the range of services in the country, including access to electronic resources and holding cultural and educational events, as well as improving staff qualifications and introducing modern methods of user service. In addition, these changes not only contribute to the development of the information society and economic growth by attracting investment in education and culture, but also promote the formation of a literate and informed society, which is an important step in the development of the country.

The Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers dated December 14, 2020 approved the National Program for the Development and Support of a Reading Culture for 2020-2025, which includes the publication of quality books that meet the spiritual, educational, artistic and aesthetic needs of the population; supporting the activities of publishers and artists, publishing children’s literature; translation of the best examples of national and world literature; simplification of the organization of book sales; improving the delivery system for newly published books and distribution of information sources; expansion of international cooperation in the field of online ordering of foreign work, their delivery and distribution.

In turn, it should be noted that within the framework of the “Uzbekistan – 2030” Strategy, special attention is paid to the popularization of masterpieces of Uzbek and world literature. The country’s leadership strives to instil in citizens a love of reading and ensure access to libraries and information services for everyone.

The Strategy “Uzbekistan – 2030” puts forward such main goals as increasing the number of young book lovers to five million, the annual creation of 100 works of art and 50 books for children and adolescents, the publication of the multi-volume book “Uzbek adabiyoti khazinasidan” (“From the Treasury of Uzbek Literature”), the 100-volume book “Jakhon Bolalar Adabiyoti Durdonalari” (“Pearls of World Children’s Literature”) in Uzbek, as well as the digitalization of a book fund of almost 40 million books.

On November 28, 2023, there was signed the Presidential Decree “On measures to implement the project “A Thousand Books for Youth”, aimed at creating a system for translating books popular in the world into Uzbek, that contribute to increasing the intellectual and scientific potential of the younger generation.

At the same time, within the framework of the “Olympiad of Five Initiatives”, the following 5 projects in the field of reading and intellectual games are annually implemented: “Young Reading Family”, “Poetry Competition”, “Young Reader”, the intellectual game “Zakovat” and the project “Example of Foreign Languages”. These projects increase the interest of young people in reading books and help expand logical thinking and knowledge through intellectual games.

The “Young Reader” and “Young Reading Family” competitions are important events held to promote reading, the spiritual enrichment of youth, and increase their intellectual potential. This competition serves to increase interest in books among young people and expand their knowledge and horizons.

Also, within the framework of the project “A Thousand Books for Youth”, the Agency for Youth Affairs will have to work on acquiring rights to use works from authors, translating them into Uzbek, and preparing for printing and publishing books on the basis of a state order and at the expense of the State budget (with the exception of books, published for state higher educational institutions).

Two stages have been established for translation into Uzbek and the publication of popular books in the world. First: a preliminary list of books is formed annually by the Expert Council. Second: the preliminary list is posted in the information systems of the Agency for Youth Affairs for selection by the population by voting, and thus the final list is formed.

The list of books published annually must include at least 20 percent of popular science works. The rights to the works prepared for publication will belong to the Agency for Youth Affairs, which will provide them free of charge to publishing houses.

It is also planned to create and ensure the continuous operation of a special mobile application that accumulates literature in the Uzbek language and provides the population with free access to a wide range of information. On the recommendation of the Expert Council, the works will be distributed to information and library institutions (including libraries of public and administration authorities), and electronic versions will be donated free of charge to the Alisher Navoi National Library of Uzbekistan and the relevant institutions of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan for wide use by readers.

The necessary spiritual, legal, material, and technical basis has been created in the Republic to develop children’s literature and improve the quality of textbooks and teaching aids. The country’s publishing houses have increased the publication of works by authors of world and Uzbek children’s literature. In accordance with a number of documents adopted to promote book reading, systematic measures are being taken in all regions to popularise literature among children and adolescents. Over the past four years, a number of presidential decrees and government resolutions have been adopted to guide the country’s publishing, printing, and bibliographical information institutions.

Thus, bibliographical information services play a critical role in ensuring public well-being by providing citizens with easy access to information, knowledge, and culture. In addition, the development of digital services, collaboration with communities, and the use of new technologies strengthen the role of libraries as centres of learning, information, and communication. This helps to enhance the capabilities of people and stimulates their desire for education. The development of the potential of information and library services contributes to lifelong learning, self-improvement, cultural and spiritual enrichment of the population. This is of crucial importance for modern society.

Ramzidin Nuridinov

Expert of the Development Strategy Center.