WASHINGTON – (Special Correspondent/Web Desk) – Pakistani journalists UNGA 81 coverage was the main topic at a reception and dinner in Washington, hosted by the Pakistani American Press Association (PAPA). The evening brought together visiting reporters, Washington-based journalists and members of the Pakistani-American community.
The guests had travelled to the United States to cover the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. The dinner gave them a chance to share what they saw and heard during a very busy week.
The session took place at a tense time for the world. Wars, human suffering, climate worries and the fast rise of artificial intelligence were all on the agenda. Its theme was “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations That Delivers for All.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was among the leaders who spoke at the General Assembly. A group of senior Pakistani journalists went to the US to report on his meetings and the wider UN proceedings.
PAPA President Khurram Shahzad and General Secretary Yousaf Chaudhry welcomed the guests. They said such meetings help build stronger professional ties between journalists in Pakistan and those working in the United States.
Many well-known names attended, including Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) President Afzal Butt. Others present were Batool Rajput, Mateen Haider, Kamran Raja, Nayyar Ali, Shakir Abbasi, Raja Zahid Akhtar Khanzada, Shabbir Ali, Zulqarnain, Nazira Azam, Anwar Iqbal and Anas. Several other journalists and community members joined them.
The visiting reporters spoke about their experience at the UN. They said the talks and news stories in New York centred on Gaza and the wider Middle East, tensions involving Iran, the US and Israel, and the war in Ukraine. Many also spoke of a changing world order.
A large part of the discussion was about journalism itself. Speakers said newsrooms are now shaped by artificial intelligence and other digital tools.
These tools can save time and help reporters handle large amounts of information. But speakers also raised serious worries. They spoke about accuracy, false information, fact-checking, editing and ethics.
Sajid Tarar, head of Muslims of America and a leading member of the Pakistani-American community, also spoke at the event. He announced plans for free AI training workshops for journalists in Pakistan.
He said reporters need more exposure to new technology as news companies change with the times. His group also gave certificates of appreciation to journalists for their work, and Tarar handed them out at the ceremony.
Speakers also talked about the role of Pakistani journalists and community groups in the US. They said these groups help keep people-to-people links strong between the two countries. They also called for more chances for training, exchange and meetings between media workers on both sides.
One point came up again and again. Technology has made news travel faster than ever, but that makes checking facts even more important.
Participants agreed that a journalist’s basic duty has not changed. It is still to find the facts, stay honest and separate proven information from rumours.
The evening ended with calls for closer cooperation between Pakistani journalists at home and abroad. Guests also asked for more training programmes to prepare reporters for the changes now shaping the global media industry.
For the Pakistani journalists UNGA 81 visitors, the dinner was a moment to look back on a week in New York where wars, diplomacy, rival stories and new technology all met under one roof.
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