Lahore: Preserving truth and public trust in journalism faces significant challenges in the era of artificial intelligence, according to Ali Dar, Advisor to the Chief Minister of Punjab on AI, International Cooperation & Special Initiatives. Addressing the Digital Sahafat Impact Event, organized by Google and Tech Valley, Dar highlighted the growing difficulties posed by AI technologies capable of creating fake videos and cloning voices, which make verification and fact-checking increasingly crucial for journalists.

According to Directorate General Public Relation – Govt of Punjab, Dar noted that the Digital Sahafat programme has trained over 4,000 journalists and students across Pakistan, including 846 participants from Punjab, equipping them with modern AI tools and fact-verification techniques. While AI can enhance research, transcription, translation, and news verification processes, Dar emphasized the importance of training, professional skills, and integrity for the responsible use of such technology.

Dar also shared that Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif aims to transform Punjab into South Asia’s leading AI-enabled province by 2029. The Punjab government is expanding AI capabilities across key sectors, including education and media, in pursuit of this vision. He stressed that despite the potential of AI, the onus remains on journalists to uphold truth through professional values, ethics, and integrity. Responsible AI use can enable Pakistani journalism to compete on an international level and share Pakistan’s stories with a broader global audience.

Commenting on the provincial government’s performance, Dar stated that under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s leadership, the Punjab government has demonstrated an impressive record of project delivery over the last two and a half years. He mentioned that even critics of the government recognize the unparalleled performance of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s administration.