KARACHI:
Recently, PTI Chairman Imran Khan announced that Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital has become the world’s second organisation to be awarded Full Enterprise Accreditation by the Joint Commission International. Considering Imran Khan’s political position, the news led to a debate on social media about the authenticity of the claim. If any other organisation’s chairperson had announced an international accreditation for their organisation, no one would question it and people would most likely celebrate the news.
As always, social media users were divided into two groups, which highlights the prevailing political polarisation in our society. The public is now divided by their political preferences. People are prepared to believe everything their leaders say and disregard the views of those from the opposing party. This is a dangerous trend as it means that the truth and facts are no longer a priority.
This is also relevant to the upcoming Global Media and Information Literacy Week, which is an initiative by UNESCO. This year’s theme focuses on nurturing trust and solidarity, which are crucial to maintaining unity and harmony in a nation. Before jumping to any conclusions, we should verify sources and critically analyse all the information. We should be wary of any biases that might be blurring our vision and our ability to see the truth. Lastly, we must be tolerant of each other’s opinions and preferences.
Mariam Khan
Lahore
Published in The Express Tribune, October 13th, 2022.
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