Khushab (Special Correspondent): Pakistan Peoples Party Central Punjab Information Secretary Shahzad Saeed Chema has stated that the PPP is not a drawing room party but a party of the people and a national asset. He expressed these views while addressing the closing session of a Social Media Tools Workshop organised by the People's Information Bureau in Khushab, which was hosted by PPP Khushab President Malik Ali Saul Awan.

 

Chema said that Bilawal Bhutto's foreign policy achievements have elevated Pakistan's standing in the world. He emphasised that political outreach is impossible without hard work and commitment, adding that without self-belief, the party cannot be made successful in Punjab. He noted that whenever the party distanced itself from the common man and his problems, its popularity declined.

 

The workshop was attended by Information Secretaries and Deputy Information Secretaries from 26 districts across 7 divisions of Central Punjab. Participants received detailed briefings on digital platforms including X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, WhatsApp, narrative building, and print media. The sessions were conducted by Abdul Razzaq Salimi, Ahmad Rahman Ghaman, Sohaib Mushtaq Awan, Usman Satti, Umaima Iftikhar, and Zainab Qureshi, who also answered questions from the attendees.

 

Deputy Secretary Ahmad Rahman Ghaman, representing Lahore Division, highlighted that in 2011 the party had only 12 Twitter accounts across Pakistan and merely 4 in Punjab, whereas today its digital presence has grown significantly. He stressed that the 2018 election was 40 percent driven by social media, the 2024 election was 80 percent, and the 2029 election would be fought entirely on social media. He called for the establishment of a Rapid Response Team in Punjab and an increase in the number of content writers, while also urging better media coordination within the party.

 

Zainab Qureshi remarked that Twitter functions like a battlefield in politics where narratives are shaped and spread, and that the best trends can be set between 8pm and midnight. Usman Satti said that Twitter trends serve as the trigger point of any society and that discipline, coordination, and cooperation are essential for a successful social media narrative. Umaima Iftikhar stressed that youth-friendly policies must be introduced to bring young people on board.

 

Sohaib Mushtaq Awan suggested that party workers should use the speeches of Bhutto and Shaheed Bibi as content, while also raising the issues of BISP, wage increases, and the rights of marginalised communities. He proposed a weekly content calendar in which each day would focus on a specific theme, ranging from party ideology and local issues to farmers' problems and party events.

 

Juweria Zafar Ahir said that politics requires a proactive approach rather than a defensive one, and that narrative building is not difficult but the messenger matters more than the message. Abdul Razzaq Salimi noted that print media carries greater credibility compared to other forms of media. Raye Rashid described Facebook as a social media tool primarily used by the middle class, while Maisam Abbas advised party workers to make it a habit to respond to every comment and reply on social media posts.

 

Abdul Rasheed observed that social media is not a charitable medium but a tool for harnessing social dynamics, adding that PTI did not use social media but rather social media used them. District Information Secretary Akbar Bhatti served as the stage secretary for the event. A Fatiha was also offered for the sister of PPP Sargodha Divisional President Tasnim Qureshi. The divisions of Rawalpindi, Sahiwal, and Gujranwala announced their willingness to host the next workshop.