PESHAWAR: In a digital age where information is just a click away, Pakistan has seen an unprecedented surge in internet users, reaching a record-breaking 87.35 million in January of this year.
This growth reflects the evolving landscape of information consumption in the country, as more people turn to their mobile phones for access to a wide array of knowledge, including geopolitical developments, economic news, cultural insights, sports updates, and a myriad of daily events from across the globe.
Over the past two years, Pakistan has welcomed an additional 4.4 million internet users, resulting in a total of 191.8 million active cellular mobile connections, which is equivalent to a remarkable 80.5 percent of the nation’s population. Consequently, social media users have also increased, reaching an impressive 71.50 million.
The statistics on social media platforms reveal that 37.30 million people use Facebook, 71.70 million engage with YouTube, 12.95 million participate on Instagram, 16.51 million enjoy TikTok, 9.30 million connect on LinkedIn, 4.65 million express themselves on Twitter, and 25.70 million share moments on Snapchat. This surge in internet and social media users in Pakistan is shaping the social fabric of the country, with both positive and negative consequences.
Notably, political parties like Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) have actively leveraged social media during their respective tenures to promote their policies, initiatives, reforms, and leadership. However, recent revelations have shed light on a concerning trend during the caretaker government’s tenure.
Farooz Jamal Kakakhel, the caretaker Provincial Minister for Information and Tourism, has disclosed that the PTI government recruited approximately 1,109 social media influencers (SMIs). These individuals received monthly salaries from the government to engage in negative propaganda against political opponents and project PTI’s policies and leadership through their social media accounts. This controversial strategy has given rise to political intolerance and chaos in society.
The SMIs were part of an initiative called the “social media participatory platform for public project,” which was launched in 2021 with an initial allocation of Rs 870 million in the Annual Development Program of the then PTI government. The project was later closed in April 2023 by the caretaker KP government due to allegations of financial irregularities and a lack of funds.
At the project’s conclusion, 1,104 internees, including 1,050 SMIs, had been engaged over nearly two years, with Rs 242 million spent from the KP government’s budget. Alleged financial improprieties in payments to PTI U-tubers and SMIs have prompted inquiries by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
Wajid Ali Khan, a PML-N leader and former KP Minister for Environment, has accused the former PTI government of diverting substantial taxpayer funds for personal promotion. He contends that the PTI failed to fulfill its promises, leading to the recruitment of mostly party workers as SMIs to promote the agenda of a specific individual.
Khan asserts that social media influencers were used as a propaganda tool after the PTI’s inability to deliver on housing and job promises, with significant projects like the Billion Trees Afforestation Project facing scrutiny. Furthermore, issues surrounding the Sehat Card scheme have arisen, impacting patients across the province.
Khan calls for a thorough investigation into alleged financial misappropriations and emphasizes the need for oversight during the upcoming election campaign to prevent objectionable content and personal attacks through social and digital media against state institutions.
