Over 500 faculty members and students from across Balochistan’s public universities are set to receive training on Media Information Literacy (MIL) as part of a province-wide initiative supported by the European Union Pakistan and implemented by Individualland Pakistan.
The three-day capacity-building program was inaugurated by Governor Balochistan Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhail and concluded by Chief Minister Balochistan, marking a milestone effort to counter misinformation, encourage critical thinking, and promote responsible media consumption among youth.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Governor Mandokhail praised the initiative and underscored the need for critical media engagement in politics and society.“We as politicians or state representatives often fail to analyze information critically.
The rise of pop culture in politics and media must be addressed through Media Information Literacy. I’m pleased that this effort begins from our universities, and I assure full support to expand it further,” he said.
At the closing ceremony, the Chief Minister of Balochistan reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to youth development through information awareness.“Media Information Literacy is essential for our youth.
I have directed the Sports and Youth Affairs Department to integrate it into the province’s Youth Engagement Plan so that this initiative reaches every district,” the Chief Minister stated.Khoso Saifullah, Project Manager and lead trainer at Individualland Pakistan, highlighted the organization’s long-term vision for MIL in Pakistan.“Our goal is to turn Media Information Literacy into a nationwide movement starting from classrooms and expanding to communities.
Through e-learning and digital tools, we aim to enable both educators and students to identify and counter misinformation effectively,” he explained.A participating faculty member from Makran University, Panjgur, shared that the training had broadened their understanding of media dynamics and teaching methods. “For many of us, Media Literacy was a new concept.
The sessions not only improved our understanding of misinformation but also enhanced our digital learning skills. The recognition from the Governor and Chief Minister has been very motivating,” the participant said.
The training brought together over 30 faculty members representing universities including Lasbela University, University of Gwadar, University of Turbat, Mir Chakar Khan Rind University (Sibi), Makran University Panjgur, Sardar Bahadur Khan Women’s University (Quetta), and BUITEMS Quetta.Sessions were led by Khoso Saifullah (Individualland Pakistan), Mashhood Ali (Trainer), Abdul Shakoor (RTI Commissioner, Quetta), and Syed Ali Shah (Senior Journalist).
The initiative represents a significant step toward promoting fact-checking, critical thinking, and digital resilience among the youth of Balochistan — a province where information access and media literacy have historically remained limited.
