Daily Times

Before anyone could ‘dig out’ the much known actualities of the so-called rumours coffined in the files of the Press Information Department (PID) of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MOIB), the PID building caught fire last Wednesday and all the record was gutted. For those who are unaware of the ‘key role’ of the PID, it is the representative department of the federal information ministry that facilitate the dissemination of information about the government initiatives and policies. In plain words, the PID executes and manages he government propaganda campaigns at the cost of the tax-payers money.

One of the notorious practices of the PID over the years has been managing and maintaining the political bribe in the shape of advertisements to the newspapers and ‘envelopes’ to the journalists of their choice from the budgeted funds or from the secret ones. Several times the lists of the ‘bon fide’ journalists were leaked out in the past. But to the shamelessness, the practice continued on the both sides rather increased manifolds with the stretch and spread of the media. Off course, democracy flourishes with a rich and strong media and richer media owners. It does not matter, whether the media is independent and impartial or just a barking animal or a megaphone of someone.

In the entire ‘democracy strengthening process’, how can the role of blue-eyed journalists be compromised who negotiate and bargain the TORs on the behalf of the media owners. Quite unfortunately this is being done by some of the journalists own leadership as well. Most of them have no significant record as mainstream journalists but leaders of the community.

With the recent move of the federal government banning government advertisements in media, we have seen a long funeral of political bribe. In the line of revenge, the media owners have fired many of the ‘top journalists’ and ‘anchors’ who they believed would affect the government decision when the affected journalists respond to the government high-ups eye-ball to eye-ball. Move is on.  Result is awaited.

After banning future government advertisement in media, the ‘rumour’ was to identify the past beneficiaries in the media of the political bribes. Before it could happen, the record gutted. So, there may be no chance of getting another list of ‘envelop-journalists’ leaked out that was fore surely expected soon by the present regime.

Not to disclose the beneficiary ‘independent and impartial journalists’ but to malign the previous democratic governments for bribing the media to fool the public and international community. The Federal Information Minister Fawad Hussain Chaudhary, however, is optimist that the record was being computerised, so mere chance of losing it. Humble suggestion: please recheck it. You might have to take U-turn on it too in the coming days.

Strangely, the MOIB has unduly tightened the noose of its subordinate cultural institutions too. Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) and Lok Virsa — the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage are not only starved for funds but autonomy too despite having status of autonomous government organisations. They are under-staffed too.

Vacant positions are waiting for the green signal for long and the external experts are forbidden too. Operational costs of these organisations are phenomenal — 93 percent of the total budget. Ignorance and negligence towards the cultural programming, promotion and mainstreaming can be gauged by the budget the federal government allocate to its institutions. Similar conditions prevail in other MOIB subordinate departments.

Do take due measures but leave breathing space for your ‘subordinate’ organisations and workers and for the self-motivated citizens and their initiatives contributing to the national objectives to wipe off the image of a ‘civilian martial-law’

On the other hand, the heads of the MOIB subordinate departments and autonomous or ganisations are so scared of the new scheme of things that every meagre step is sent to the ministry for approval.

Quite ironic: even in-kind collaboration with the non-funded and non-profit genuine programming that promotes the state objectives needs the federal ministry’s approval. It is not only a lengthy process but discouraging too for those citizens who want to contribute to the state objectives and rationality by promoting and mainstreaming cultural image of Pakistan by engaging youth and communities. It is frustrating for the employees who sit idle most of the time and do not contribute to the scope and mandate of their organisations. It has been leading to no performance and no promotions for years. Many would be retired from their jobs in the same scales they were appointed in. Unfortunately, for them who spoiled their lives, for no significant gain, but for some bucks to fulfil their social needs. They compromised their professional growth and excellence which could remain an agony for them in the rest of their lives.

MOIB is not the only ministry practicing the penny-wise and pound-foolish strategy. All government ministries, departments and organisations are practicing the same. Billions are spent every year on the operational costs but nothing on the actual state objectivities, national scope and mandate of the government entities.

While taking these tedious steps for meagre savings and authoritarian control over the subordinate departments and organisations, the government’s careless shout-out on economic and strategic measures taken by the previous government have dent the country with unbearable reputation and monetary loss.

Humble suggestion to the high-ups of the government: Do take due measures but leave the breathing space for your ‘subordinate’ organisations and workers and for the self-motivated citizens and their initiatives contributing to the national objectives to wipe off the image of a ‘civilian martial-law’.

The writer is an Islamabad-based policy advocacy, strategic communication and outreach expert. He can be reached at devcom.pakistan@gmail.com. He tweets @EmmayeSyed

Published in Daily Times, October 31^st 2018.