PM seeks performance reports from ministries

Says PTV should produce programmes to truly highlight Pakistan's social values

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed all ministries to submit their performance reports to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, saying it is necessary to inform the people about the performance of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government during its first year in office.

Chairing a meeting to review the performance of the information ministry and its allied departments on Monday, the prime minister said, “The ministry has a vital role to highlight the government's performance.”

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, SAPM on Political Affairs Naeemul Haq, information secretary, Pakistan Television chairman and managing director and senior officers attended the meeting.

During the meeting, the prime minister was apprised of the performance of the ministry, Press Information Department, Radio Pakistan, Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) and Pakistan Television during the outgoing year.



The prime minister said the PTV represented the national identity, culture and values, which should produce programmes to truly highlight Pakistan's social values.

The SAPM on Information apprised the prime minister that on his directives, the process to appoint information commissioners had been finalised in light of the Access to Information Act 2017.

The PM was informed that the government had already announced an interim wage board award while the promulgation of the eighth wage board award was under way.

The prime minister was briefed that in pursuance of his government's austerity drive, the information ministry had saved Rs200 million during the previous year.

Imran was informed that the ministry had paid Rs1.5 billion as arrears of pensions to the employees of the APP and Radio Pakistan besides paying an equal amount (Rs 1.5 billion) to the retired PTV employees.

The meeting was told that the ministry would soon table a new policy for judicious distribution of advertisements and effectively highlight the government's initiatives for its approval.

The SAPM said that on the prime minister's directive, the restructuring of the institutions was under way to enhance their effectiveness.

The PTV chairman also briefed the prime minister on the ongoing reforms in the organisation and outcomes achieved so far.