Posts on Pakistani social media shared an article purportedly from an Urdu newspaper claiming that due to the presence of “non-journalists” in the media, the government announced it would conduct exams for journalists.
This claim is unfounded. No such announcement has been made by the government.
Claim
On March 23, a user shared a purported image of a newspaper on X, formerly known as Twitter, claiming that due to the presence of non-journalists, the government announced a three-phase review process for journalists in the country.
According to the claim, the first phase includes tests of Urdu grammar, dictation and essay writing of a future journalist. The second phase covers the basic elements of journalism, such as news writing and report writing. The third phase focuses on investigative journalism and psychological awareness.
At the time of writing, the post had been viewed 14,900 times, liked 475 times and shared 124 times.
Identical claims were also shared on Instagram and Facebook.
Do
No such policy regarding testing of journalists has been introduced by the government, officials and journalists confirmed.
Tasawar Arafat Chaudhry, media coordinator to the federal minister for information and broadcasting, denied the claim. “Neither the Ministry of Information nor the PID [Press Information Department] “We have not issued any such statement and there is no such program,” he said. “We strongly reject and deny it.”
Azma Zahid Bokhari, the Punjab Information Minister, also said Geography Fact Check via messages stating that the claim is not true.
Abdul Razzaq Sial, president of Islamabad Press Club, said Geography Fact Check on the phone that the online claims were false. “It’s 100% false,” he said. “If you look at the headline, it’s not even in newspaper format. Someone made it up; it’s made up.”
Arshad Ansari, president of the Lahore Press Club, also confirmed that the online posts were not true. “I checked, it’s not true,” he said. “This is just a social media rumor that resurfaces every couple of years. I have verified it with multiple sources and there is no truth to it.”
Muhammad Riaz, president of Peshawar Press Club, also confirmed that no such initiative had been announced by the provincial government. “No such proposal is under consideration in the provincial government or any of its departments or institutions,” Riaz said.
Verdict: The claim that the government announced exams for journalists is false. No such policy exists and officials and media outlets have rejected it.
