Pakistan Television (PTV) on Wednesday launched its new digital news channel in English, PTV Digital, aimed at projecting Pakistan’s perspective for the global public and counteracting Anti-Pakistan narratives.
Prime Minister Shehbaz inaugurated the channel revealing a plaque in a ceremony attended by the Minister of Information Attaullah Tarar, the Secretary of Information Ambreen Jan and other senior officials.
The new channel is part of PTV’s efforts to expand its fingerprint and involve international viewers with Pakistan’s views on regional and global issues.
He also toured several sections of the channel, met with young professionals and praised his enthusiasm, qualifying his crucial role to counteract external narratives and underlining that the enthusiasm of young professionals would be “vital in the battle of narratives against external propaganda.”
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Shehbaz said that the main objective of the platform was to provide authentic news while responding effectively to misrepresentation and erroneous information about Pakistan.
He also recorded his first interview for the channel, whose extracts were later transmitted by PTV.
“If you are in the right direction, committing to all your passion and energy to serve the cause of your country, it is a great inspiration,” he said. When asked about his vision for Pakistan in the next decade, the prime minister said he hoped to see the nation “standing with notable achievements in economic prosperity, peace and happiness.”
Informing the Prime Minister, Tarar said that PTV Digital would serve as a credible and proactive voice for the country, joining the information gaps and promoting public diplomacy through an English platform. He pointed out that the channel would focus on international matters, cultural ideas, economic progress and analysis.
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He added that the channel would combine internal reports with a global network of independent workers and associations with cable agencies such as Reuters and Associated Press (AP) to guarantee real -time, verified and high quality coverage.
The initiative, he emphasized, is intended to counteract the unilateral narratives that prevail in the western and Indian regional media.
Tarar added that the strategic objective of the channel was “to deliver the story of Pakistan first, before others define it.”
