New Delhi: In a move that has left many Pakistanis both bewildered and amused, the government has allocated 2 billion Pakistani rupees to the military’s public relations wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations, to combat fake news. The irony of this allocation has not escaped the public, as many argue that the very entity tasked with countering disinformation has long been accused of peddling it itself.
Columnist Mohammad Taqi captured the mood of the moment on X, “The pioneer, purveyor, and profiteer of fake news — the ISPR — gets 2 billion to fight its product!”
Announced shortly after the unveiling of Pakistan’s new five-year economic plan, Project URAAN, the monetary boost aims to technologically upgrade the ISPR to counter what officials have described as a growing threat from fake news.
The initiative, led by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) endorsed by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, calls for significant investment in digital tools and cybersecurity. However, the timing of this investment—amid ongoing economic hardships—has led to debates about the allocation of state resources.
Pakistani economist Javed Hassan told ThePrint that while PKR 2 billion would not break the government’s back, allocation of such funds at a time when the country is running behind on critical IMF targets is ‘frivolous and wasteful’.
“While the economic impact would be limited, it does raise questions about whether this is the best use of limited resources and effective allocation of funds,” he said.
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Diverting funds to the Army
Out of the PKR 2 billion allocated to the initiative, PKR 1.22 billion will go toward upgrading the ISPR’s technological infrastructure. The remaining PKR 723 million will be directed toward strengthening cybersecurity systems. The goal, as outlined by the ECC, is to equip the ISPR with the necessary tools to confront increasingly sophisticated misinformation campaigns that, according to the military, threaten the credibility of state institutions, Bloom Pakistan reported.
The government has also reallocated PKR 50 million from its contribution to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) budget to finance this new initiative aimed at combating disinformation.
This move comes amid ongoing concerns about the spread of fake news, often used for political manipulation. General Asim Munir has previously emphasised the importance of holding “inimical elements” accountable for spreading false narratives and engaging in propaganda.
According to a briefing provided to the ECC, the ISPR plays a central role in countering disinformation aimed at state institutions. To keep pace with evolving technological challenges and fulfill its growing responsibilities, the military has stressed the need for a gradual technological upgrade of the ISPR Directorate to match the capabilities of adversarial forces, Express Tribune reported.
The Pakistani government has redirected funds from other departments to finance this project. The Islamabad Deputy Commissioner’s office, the Advocate General’s office, and the Islamabad Capital Territory police have all seen their budgets reduced to make way for the initiative.
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‘Is this what IMF fund is used for?’
This move has been criticised by Pakistanis, with many questioning why resources are being diverted from essential services to fund a military-run information operation.
“For a poor country like Pakistan, where the masses are struggling to make ends meet, this grotesque usurpation of state’s resources by the military is a tragedy,” wrote one X user, @refutationist.
Many have also raised concerns about the political implications of this initiative, especially given that the ISPR has been accused of manipulating narratives and spreading disinformation in the past.
“Translation: ISPR, the biggest factory of fake news, gets an additional 2 billion to fight so-called fake news with real fake news,” author Mohd Umair Khan wrote on X.
Others have also raised concerns about the transparency of this funding— Is this what the IMF funds are being used for?
“What new taxes awam (the public) will have to pay for this nonsense. Dg-ISPR is the biggest purveyor of fake news in the country now they want billions to keep their mouth shut. Napak Fauj and its form 47 Gorment is looting the country like hyenas eating flash and the bones of a carcass (aawam) (sic),” a Reddit user said.
(Edited by Theres Sudeep)