Furqan Rao

Dr. Muhammad Furqan Rao has more than fifteen years of experience working across global news organizations, research institutions, and academic networks. As the Executive Director of the Center for Democracy and Climate Studies, he leads the institution’s strategic vision on democracy, climate governance, water management, fake news, media literacy, and public policy strengthening research, dialogue, and collaboration across national and international platforms.

Dr. Rao holds a PhD in Journalism and Communication from Tsinghua University, one of the world’s top-ranked institutions, and is a Fulbright Fellow (2014). He has also completed a 1-year Certification in Chinese Language from Beijing Language and Culture University, Beijing, China, and a Certification in New Media Communication from Renmin University, Beijing, China (2015). His extensive global exposure includes representing Pakistan in high-level forums and academic exchanges across the United States, China, Russia, Sweden, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and Azerbaijan.

A certified trainer with the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Dr. Rao has organized capacity-building programs for journalists, social media influencers, and researchers, particularly in the domains of media ethics, press freedom, misinformation, and CPEC reporting. He has participated as a speaker, moderator, and expert at global summits including the World Media Summit, UNESCO’s Global Media and Information Literacy Conference, and international conferences on public diplomacy, information perception, and digital media.

Dr. Rao is also a published scholar with research appearing in reputable international journals, covering themes such as CPEC, hate speech, media information literacy, public diplomacy, and digital communication. His academic work reflects a deep commitment to understanding the intersection of media, governance, and global development.