The second meeting of the Provincial Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information & Public Relations (IPR) was held on Thursday at the Rehman Baba Conference Room in the Provincial Assembly Secretariat. The meeting was chaired by the committee’s chairman and Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA), Malik Adeel Iqbal. Other committee members, including MPAs Shafiullah Jan, Sher Ali Afridi, and Abdul Salam, attended the session. Senior officials from the Information & Public Relations Department, including Secretary Arshad Khan and Director General Information Saleem Khan, as well as representatives from the Finance and Planning & Development (P&D) departments, were also present.
During the meeting, a detailed review of the decisions taken in the previous session was conducted, and a briefing was given on the actions taken by the Information & Public Relations Department. Discussions focused on various aspects of the department’s financial, administrative, and operational performance.
Chairing the meeting, MPA Malik Adeel Iqbal emphasized the need to enhance the effectiveness of regional information offices. It was decided that the performance of all regional information offices would be thoroughly reviewed in the next meeting to improve the dissemination of information across the province.
He highlighted that the timely and accurate provision of information to the public is crucial for government transparency and accountability. He further stated that the Information Department acts as a vital bridge between the government, journalists, and media organizations, ensuring that the public remains informed about government decisions and development initiatives.
Malik Adeel Iqbal also stressed the importance of effectively communicating the performance of public representatives to the people and relaying public expectations and concerns to the government. He underscored the need for further practical steps in this regard.
The committee members agreed that the Provincial Assembly and standing committees play a vital role in making important decisions and legislating for public welfare. Therefore, it is essential to keep the public informed about these developments, with the Information Department playing a key role in this effort.
During the meeting, the performance of various regional information offices was reviewed, with particular appreciation given to the Kohat Regional Information Office for its efficiency in disseminating timely information and effectively communicating government initiatives.
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