Daily Times

Caretaker Chief Minister Punjab Dr Hassan Askari has said that tremendous potential for progress and prosperity exists in the society and proper utilisation of talented and professional human resource can open the doors of development and growth in Pakistan.

While talking to the eight-member delegation of Unified Media Club of Pakistan, led by its general secretary Haroon Akram Gill on Wednesday, the chief minister said that positive changes in the economic situation after peaceful holding of the elections are a good sign and added that timely decisions are necessary to ensure good governance. He said that media interconnects government and the people and identification of problems of the people through media helps the policy makers in decision making. He said that independent media is the guardian of societal norms and added that proactive role of media cannot be ignored in the social development of the society. In fact, presence of a responsible media is imperative for fulfillment of democracy and democratic norms. He said that constructive role played by the media industry during the elections is commendable as it has proactive worked to sensitise the people about the importance of vote. The caretaker government has fulfilled the responsibility of free and fair elections through impartial decisions and the whole government team fully exhibited its professional capabilities to meet the challenge of holding impartial elections, he added.

Caretaker CM Punjab Dr Hassan Askari also apprised the delegation about responsibilities and working of the caretaker government and answered to their questions.

Provincial Directorate General Public Relations Nabila Ghazanfar was also present on the occasion.

Provincial Minister for Information & Culture Ahmed Waqas Riaz also called on Dr Hassan Askari at his office on Wednesday.

During the meeting, the CM appreciated the performance of DGPR and the information department for facilitating the media men during elections and arranging necessary coordination with the stakeholders. He also congratulated Information Minister Ahmed Waqas Riaz and his team for best media management. Talking on the occasion, the CM said that officers and staff of DGPR and the information department performed their duties in a professional manner. They arranged best coordination with the media men to carry out the responsibilities, he added.

“The performance of the department was satisfying and I am of the opinion that officers of DGPR and information department will continue to work with same zeal, passion and hard work to serve the nation in future as well,” he maintained. Provincial minister Ahmed Waqas Riaz briefed the chief minister about the performance of information and culture department.

Published in Daily Times, August 2^nd 2018.