PA body on Information Dept for strengthening regional offices

PESHAWAR: The Provincial Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information and Public Relations on Thursday stressed the need for strengthening the regional offices of the department to disseminate quick and correct information to the masses about the government’s initiatives.

Chairing the second meeting of Provincial Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information and Public Relations, committee Chairman Member Provincial Assembly Malik Adeel Iqbal said emphasized the need to enhance the effectiveness of regional information offices.

The participants decided that the performance of all regional information offices would be thoroughly reviewed in the next meeting to improve the dissemination of information across the province.

Other committee members, including MPAs Shafiullah Jan, Sher Ali Afridi, and Abdul Salam, attended the session. Senior officials of the Information and Public Relations Department, including Secretary Arshad Khan and Director General Information Saleem Khan and representatives from the Finance and Planning and Development (P&D) departments, were also present.

During the meeting, a detailed review of the decisions taken in the previous session was conducted, and a briefing was given on the actions taken by the Information and Public Relations Department. Discussions focused on various aspects of the department’s financial, administrative, and operational performance.

The participants said that the timely and accurate provision of information to the public is crucial for government transparency and accountability. They said that the Information Department acted as a vital bridge between the government, journalists, and media organisations, ensuring that the public remains informed about government decisions and development initiatives.

Malik Adeel Iqbal also stressed the importance of effectively communicating the performance of public representatives to the people and relaying public expectations and concerns to the government. He underscored the need for further practical steps in this regard.

The committee members agreed that the Provincial Assembly and standing committees played a vital role in making important decisions and legislating for public welfare. It was noted that keeping the public informed about these developments was essential, and the Information Department played a key role in this effort.