Fake news threatens Pakistan’s corporate image: PM aide

ISLAMABAD: Misinformation and fake news are damaging Pakistan’s corporate reputation because of weak defamation laws and poor accountability, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Privatization Muhammad Ali said Tuesday.

Speaking at the launch of “Reputation Management and Crisis Communication,” a book by Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) media head Imran Ghaznavi, Ali said corporate reputation is not just an image but an asset. “Unfortunately, there is no strict punishment for defamation in Pakistan, and misinformation can destroy the credibility of any person, company or institution,” he said.

Ali praised the book as a guide for corporate leaders, noting its practical examples and advice on leadership, ethics, governance and digital technology to strengthen corporate image. He linked poor corporate reputation to Pakistan’s brain drain, saying unreliable and mistrustful communication often undermines organizational credibility. The event, hosted by National Skills University, drew corporate leaders, students and Member of National Assembly.

Economist Dr. Waqar said reputation determines consumer trust in corporate products, while Dr. Zafaruddin Ahmed, President of the Academy for Global Business Advancement (AGBA), USA, hailed the publication as a landmark achievement by a Pakistani author and called the book a key resource for designing communication

strategies. Former Higher Education Commission chairman Dr. Javaid Laghari said it would be an essential reference for research on communication crises.