PESHAWAR: Information minister Dr. Firdaus Ashiq Awan called on the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Governor Barrister Masood Kausar at KPK House, here on Thursday and reviewed the prospects for more effective role and efficient contribution of the ministry in the image building of FATA and to project the government’s socio-economic development oriented programs through media befittingly.
While reviewing the existing scenario in all respects in this connection, both the Governor and the Federal minister were of the view that indeed they have to go an extra mile to project the valuable social and cultural values of the people of FATA as well as the achievements of the government especially in respect of socio-economic development and prosperity of the tribal people. The sacrifices of the people of FATA for the motherland have always been well acknowledged and no effort will be spared to bring them in the mainstream of development and prosperity, it was stressed. They observed that unfortunately because of terrorism and militancy especially during the recent past, the soft image of the people of FATA who otherwise are very democratic and principled people have been affected which also needs to be corrected through projection of their proper image.
Barrister Masood Kausar said, despite difficult situations, a lot of development has been carried out to generate economic activities; improve socio-economic conditions of the people of FATA and ensure their better future which needs to be duly projected. “There exists a lot to be projected including valuable socio-cultural values of the people of FATA and we want more effective and efficient role of both the official and private media to project that, as far as the efforts for image building of the nation especially the people of FATA are concerned, he added. Ensuring sufficient space in the prime time programs of the Pakistan Television especially in its news bulletins for life in FATA could be the best immediate answer in this respect, he added.
Dr. Firdaus Ashiq Awan while conceding to the point of views expressed by the Governor assured to go an extra mile for ensuring projection of the achievements of the government in its efforts for bringing socio-economic development in various disciplines of life and all the respective means would be mobilized for this purpose. “We do realize the immediate as well as long term requirements, as far as the role of official media in projecting the voice of the tribal people is concerned and immediate steps will be taken in this respect”, she said. She assured that FATA would be given due representation on official media adding that efforts would be made to establish separate telecasting Additional Chief Secretary, FATA, Mr. Fazal Karim Khattak and the Secretary to Governor, Mr. Sikandar Qayyum were also present on this occasion. Online
