Meta holds a workshop on digital transformation for government partners in Pakistan. On Friday, Meta organized a comprehensive workshop on Digital Transformation for government partners at the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication in Islamabad. The event saw the participation of prominent figures, including Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Secretary IT Captain Muhammad Mahmood (retired), Additional Secretary Aisha Humera Moriani, Member IT Syed Junaid Imam, and DG International Coordination Syed Jawwad Ali Sherazi.
The primary goal of the Government Digital Transformation workshop was to engage social media and public relations representatives from various ministries and government departments. Meta aimed to educate these officials on enhancing their digital media presence, fostering connections, and improving engagement with the Pakistani public through Meta platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.
Meta representatives provided a detailed overview of Community Standards, focusing on key issues like Bullying and Harassment, Hate Speech, and Misinformation. They also highlighted the available safety tools, products, and resources designed to maintain a secure online environment.
Attendees included officers and officials from the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), National Information Technology Board (NITB), Ignite, Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), and Universal Service Fund (USF).
The Meta team present at the event comprised Dr. Priyanka Bhalla, Head of Safety Policy; Dania Mukhtar, Lead Public Policy; Tabeer Ather, Manager Public Policy; and Guillin Cathrine Zhou, Partner Manager.
In addition to the workshop, Meta held a Community Summit in Islamabad to engage with civil society partners. The summit focused on discussing social media best practices, online safety, and freedom of expression. This initiative was part of Meta’s broader effort to connect with key stakeholders in Pakistan and reinforce its commitment to promoting a safe and open online environment.
Dr. Priyanka Bhalla, Meta’s Head of Safety Policy for the Asia Pacific region, emphasized the importance of creating a secure online space, stating, “We want people to foster online relationships and share their thoughts in an environment where they feel safe. Meta will continue to work with civil society organizations in Pakistan to help us build features and tools so people can connect online safely and responsibly.”
Heather MGirton, Programme Specialist for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), also attended the event and expressed her encouragement, saying, “This was a great opportunity to meet with Pakistani civil society on child safety issues. It is encouraging to know that there are such engaged groups investing in keeping those most vulnerable in our societies safe.”
