Economic ministries: Most spokespersons remain inactive

They come into action only when damage is done.

ISLAMABAD:

With mounting criticism of its economic policies, the PML-N government is facing a unique challenge from within as the offices of spokespersons in all economic ministries have virtually become dysfunctional or they come into action only when the damage is already done.

The spokespersons have become ineffective both in the main economic ministries and in the institutions and attached departments. The only exception seems to be the spokesman for the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Shahid Hussain Asad, who often promptly responds to the media queries.



The virtual silence of official voices is damaging the government more than the media. By not responding to the queries, the spokespersons surrender their right to give the official side of the story. At the same time, they react to news stories once these are published.

The situation is compounding problems for the government at a time when economic challenges are already there. The offices of spokespersons that have become ineffective are in the Ministry of Finance, Economic Affairs, Revenue, Statistics and Privatisation, Ministry of Planning, Ministry of Water and Power, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

However, the chairman of Privatisation Commission, secretary of economic affairs and chief statistician of PBS respond in their personal capacities.

The offices of spokespersons are occupied by the bureaucrats belonging to these ministries. They are separate from the public relation officers (PROs) that the Press Information Department of the Ministry of Information posts in the ministries. PROs often do their jobs by communicating the activities of the ministers.

Ignoring directives

By ignoring the media, the spokespersons are violating the instructions issued by the press wing of the Prime Minister’s Office last year. In October 2013, when the government was facing a barrage of criticism after the increase in power tariffs, the press wing gave directives to all the ministries to become proactive in their interaction with the media.



They were told to hold background discussions and press briefings regularly to take the media into confidence. The press wing also asked the ministries to substantiate their statements through facts and figures.

However, except for the FBR, none of the spokespersons are following the instructions. They are neither holding any background discussions nor providing facts and figures. Instead, the spokespersons are increasingly trying to block news stories instead of giving versions.

Shirking responsibilities

It is not because the spokespersons do not have information but it seems that the commitment and sincerity to the job is missing, according to an official of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. He says the bureaucrats do not care about the government’s reputation.

For instance, the spokesman for the Ministry of Finance is considered the right-hand man of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. He holds all the necessary information and could respond immediately. From May 21 to October 9, he was requested on 24 occasions to give official versions on news stories, but he chose to respond only once.

The Ministry of Water and Power is another critical government department that always remains in the news because of the prevailing energy crisis. But again the office of spokesperson is highly ineffective.

Similarly, in the Ministry of Planning, one would regret after calling the spokesman. However, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal does personally take interest in media affairs. But he cannot tolerate any news that is anti-government and is related to his ministry.

In the case of SBP, the spokesperson sometimes responds and sometimes not. Its strategy is more about managing the media than having a professional working relationship.

In the age of communications, having no communications strategy or the one that is buried in the files could prove damaging for the government. The policymakers need to understand that newspapers shape the opinions of people, diplomats and other segments of the society.

The spokespersons too should rise to the occasion and become active in their roles as the government is fast coming under pressure due to the current political impasse and fragile economic and security situation.

The writer is a staff correspondent

Published in The Express Tribune, October 20^th, 2014.

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