Report: ANI Correspondent:
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar presented a Recognition Shield to Qurat ul Ain Ali Khawaja, Chairperson of the All Pakistan Media Council (APMC), in recognition of her performance, hard work and contributions to media and journalism, as well as her active participation in the Young Leaders Parliament’s engagement with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
The recognition was presented during a three-hour interactive session held at the Pak-China Friendship Center in Islamabad, where a 30-member delegation of the Young Leaders Parliament (YLP), representing diverse professional backgrounds and different parts of Pakistan, interacted with the Federal Minister.
The session focused on youth participation, digital transformation, institutional development, professional challenges and practical initiatives that could contribute to national development.
As part of the visit, the delegation also visited the Ministry’s Digital Communication Department, where participants were briefed on its functions, digital communication mechanisms, online media monitoring, information dissemination and efforts to address misinformation in the rapidly evolving digital environment.
During the interactive session, participants from different professional fields presented sector-specific recommendations. Dr Asif Basri, CEO of Basri Foundation and Hospital, shared proposals concerning the healthcare sector, improved public engagement and service delivery.
Members of the legal fraternity suggested initiatives including online legal articles, accessible legal information and public-awareness content to help citizens better understand relevant laws and their rights.
Participants from the education sector highlighted the growing impact of artificial intelligence, online applications and digital learning tools on the traditional role of teachers. The discussion emphasized the need to redefine the educator’s role around mentorship, critical thinking, human interaction and professional guidance as technology increasingly provides instant access to information.
Representing the media and civil society sector, Qurat ul Ain Ali Khawaja proposed the establishment of a Leadership Development Unit, coupled with structured academic and professional supervision within institutions. She emphasized that leadership development should move beyond occasional seminars and training sessions and become a continuous institutional process involving mentorship, supervision, practical application and performance development.
Federal Minister Attaullah Tarar appreciated the participants for presenting practical and professionally relevant ideas and encouraged them to move beyond recommendations towards implementation and measurable outcomes.
The Minister also acknowledged the achievements of participating young professionals and presented Recognition Shields to selected participants at the conclusion of the session.
The three-hour engagement provided a platform for young professionals to interact directly with a federal policymaker, understand the working of a key public institution and present practical recommendations from their respective fields.
The recognition awarded to APMC Chairperson Qurat ul Ain Ali Khawaja added significance to the engagement, particularly by highlighting the role of emerging female leadership nationally and internationally in media, strategic communication, institutional development and constructive policy dialogue on youth participation and digital transformation.
