PPP, PML- N govts covered up funds misuse: Fawad Chaudhry
Access to information is the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan, says information minister
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry. PHOTO: ONLINE
ISLAMABAD:
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said on Monday there was corruption of billions of rupees in the past and the previous governments tried to cover up details of projects from the media and general public but now those involved in corruption will be held accountable.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the Federal Information Commission, the minister said that the right to information law had been implemented as per vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan as part of the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) government's 100-day agenda.
Chaudhry said that the commission, constituted under the Right to Information (RTI) Act 2017, had become functional with the appointment of the federal chief information commissioner and two information commissioners.
No force can damage our ties with Pakistan, says China
"Access to information is the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan," the minister said. "Implementation of this act will also help media persons because the public sector will be legally bound to provide information to the media and general public."
He added that the government has formed the Federal Information Commission to eliminate corruption. "More the transparency, lesser the corruption. Only transparency can eliminate corruption," he added. "This is a big step towards a corruption-free society."
The minister said that the past governments tried to cover up details of projects from the media and general public. When the PTI legislators raised the use of more than a trillion rupees, released for Balochistan during past 10 years, the opposition which was in power then, made hue and cry and claimed that democracy was in danger.
"The break out in cold sweat, when we talk about accountability. When we ask where they invested the money they make faces if they get a heart attack," he said. "These people have no remorse over their doings … Thankfully, it was their last election," he added.
Accusing the opposition of not letting the government perform its duties, Chaudhry described the opposition demand for giving Public Accounts Committee chairmanship to Shehbaz Sharif as unreasonable, saying that any such move would be contrary to the spirit of justice and accountability.
About achievements of his ministry during the first 100 days of the government, he said that a media university was being set up, while censorship on state media had been abolished, the Radio Pakistan and the Pakistan Television Corporation were being revamped and the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) would be digitalised.
He added that the Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority was being constituted to regulate print, electronic and digital media. Similarly, he continued, a transparent advertisements policy had been formulated which would be implemented after input from stakeholders.
He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan would brief the nation on the achievements of the government during the first 100 days in office on November 29. "A good foundation had been laid during the 100 days," he said and hoped that there would be positive developments in days head.
Kartarpur initiative proves we stand for peace: Fawad
Separately, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry addressed a ceremony in connection with collection of donations for martyred police personnel at the Chinese consulate in Karachi. He said that enemies could not harm the close strategic relations between Pakistan and China through conspiracies.
"Both the nations share a deep-rooted friendship," the minister said, adding: "Since Pakistan recognised China just after the revolution, the bilateral relations have further strengthened with the passage of time."
The minister said that terrorist attack on Chinese consulate in Karachi was part of a big conspiracy to sabotage Pakistan's friendly relations with China. "Some countries are wary of close ties between Beijing and Islamabad, but they would never succeed in their nefarious designs."
Paying tribute to the martyred police personnel, he said that the martyred laid down their lives in line of duty by foiling the cowardly attack and the fund-raising by the Chinese community was the proof of deep-rooted relations between the two neighborly countries.
He said that Pakistan was a resilient nation, which had fought bravely against terrorism. "Had any other country faced the similar situation, it would have collapsed," he added. Due to unprecedented sacrifices of the armed force, police and other law-enforcement agencies, terror incidents have been controlled."
Chinese Deputy Head of Mission Lijian Zhao said that Chinese people were raising funds for the families of the two martyred police officers, who foiled a terrorist attack on Chinese consulate in Karachi. He said Pakistan's friendship to Chinese is deep-rooted and originated from heart.
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said on Monday there was corruption of billions of rupees in the past and the previous governments tried to cover up details of projects from the media and general public but now those involved in corruption will be held accountable.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the Federal Information Commission, the minister said that the right to information law had been implemented as per vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan as part of the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) government's 100-day agenda.
Chaudhry said that the commission, constituted under the Right to Information (RTI) Act 2017, had become functional with the appointment of the federal chief information commissioner and two information commissioners.
No force can damage our ties with Pakistan, says China
"Access to information is the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan," the minister said. "Implementation of this act will also help media persons because the public sector will be legally bound to provide information to the media and general public."
He added that the government has formed the Federal Information Commission to eliminate corruption. "More the transparency, lesser the corruption. Only transparency can eliminate corruption," he added. "This is a big step towards a corruption-free society."
The minister said that the past governments tried to cover up details of projects from the media and general public. When the PTI legislators raised the use of more than a trillion rupees, released for Balochistan during past 10 years, the opposition which was in power then, made hue and cry and claimed that democracy was in danger.
"The break out in cold sweat, when we talk about accountability. When we ask where they invested the money they make faces if they get a heart attack," he said. "These people have no remorse over their doings … Thankfully, it was their last election," he added.
Accusing the opposition of not letting the government perform its duties, Chaudhry described the opposition demand for giving Public Accounts Committee chairmanship to Shehbaz Sharif as unreasonable, saying that any such move would be contrary to the spirit of justice and accountability.
About achievements of his ministry during the first 100 days of the government, he said that a media university was being set up, while censorship on state media had been abolished, the Radio Pakistan and the Pakistan Television Corporation were being revamped and the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) would be digitalised.
He added that the Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority was being constituted to regulate print, electronic and digital media. Similarly, he continued, a transparent advertisements policy had been formulated which would be implemented after input from stakeholders.
He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan would brief the nation on the achievements of the government during the first 100 days in office on November 29. "A good foundation had been laid during the 100 days," he said and hoped that there would be positive developments in days head.
Kartarpur initiative proves we stand for peace: Fawad
Separately, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry addressed a ceremony in connection with collection of donations for martyred police personnel at the Chinese consulate in Karachi. He said that enemies could not harm the close strategic relations between Pakistan and China through conspiracies.
"Both the nations share a deep-rooted friendship," the minister said, adding: "Since Pakistan recognised China just after the revolution, the bilateral relations have further strengthened with the passage of time."
The minister said that terrorist attack on Chinese consulate in Karachi was part of a big conspiracy to sabotage Pakistan's friendly relations with China. "Some countries are wary of close ties between Beijing and Islamabad, but they would never succeed in their nefarious designs."
Paying tribute to the martyred police personnel, he said that the martyred laid down their lives in line of duty by foiling the cowardly attack and the fund-raising by the Chinese community was the proof of deep-rooted relations between the two neighborly countries.
He said that Pakistan was a resilient nation, which had fought bravely against terrorism. "Had any other country faced the similar situation, it would have collapsed," he added. Due to unprecedented sacrifices of the armed force, police and other law-enforcement agencies, terror incidents have been controlled."
Chinese Deputy Head of Mission Lijian Zhao said that Chinese people were raising funds for the families of the two martyred police officers, who foiled a terrorist attack on Chinese consulate in Karachi. He said Pakistan's friendship to Chinese is deep-rooted and originated from heart.