Govt took a series of initiatives during its 100 days in power: Information Minister
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Information Minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain says the Right to Information act will help bring transparency in the country to curb corruption.
He was addressing a ceremony in Islamabad on Monday in connection with launch of Federal Information Commission for implementation of Federal Right to Information Law.
He said the law will help journalists to seek information on various issues from the government departments. Each government department will be obliged to give information in ten days. If it does not comply, the case will be sent to the relevant Commission.
He said a whistle blower act to curb corruption is also coming soon which is a great step towards ending this menace.
Reward money of twenty per cent will be given from the recovered amount to the person who blows the whistle regarding any corruption.
The Information Minister said the information regarding granting of advertisements to the newspapers will also be made public soon.
The Minister said thirty four initiatives have been taken by the government under six themes during its one hundred days into power. Referring to the achievements of his ministry, Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said Right to Information Act is a significant achievement of his ministry.
He said the present government has given unprecedented freedom to media. It liberated the state run radio and TV from the censorship of last 70 years. He said a state-of-the-art university, for not only Pakistan but also for the whole South Asia, has been planned by information ministry as part of 100 days plan.
He said structural reforms are also being made and revamping of broadcasting and information units is being done to improve efficiency.
Both Radio Pakistan and Pakistan Television Corporation will be converged and brought under one authority or Board of Governors.
Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said APP will be turned into a modern digital service at par with Reuters and other international wire agencies.
He said the previous governments made appointments on political basis due to which government departments became weaker. He said cumulative losses of PIA and Steel Mills in 5 years are around 552 billion rupees.
