CM adviser wants RIOs more active role to counter fake news

PESHAWAR: Adviser to Chief Minister on Information and Public Relations Ajmal Wazir has lauded the role of his department for delivering authentic information and raising awareness among the general public in the prevailing coronavirus crisis.

“The Information Department must move forward with the changing circumstances to modernise its strategy and make sure the use of modern means of communication such as social and digital media in the public interest,” he told a meeting here on Thursday.

Besides others, Secretary Information Syed Imtiaz Ali Shah, Director General Imdadullah, Director Public Relations Bahramand Durrani and Deputy Director Communication Shamsul Haq also attended the meeting.

Ajmal Wazir said that the responsibility of media had increased in the prevailing circumstances and it had to act responsibly. He directed the quarters concerned to enhance the efficiency of the regional offices of the Information Department, urging the staff deployed over there to establish a close contact with the local administration and political leadership.

He said the districts were the primary sources of information and the dissemination of disinformation and fake news could be avoided if authentic news grabbed at local level and circulated accordingly. The advisor directed the authorities to make the regional information offices (RIOs) more active to rise to the occasion. Earlier, secretary Information briefed the advisor on the activities and strategies of the department in the wake of coronavirus pandemic. He said that to create awareness among the masses regarding their protection from the coronavirus and necessary precautions, the correct figures of affected people and other related information, a communicating strategy had been developed to ensure timely awareness. He informed that officers and officials of the department were working in three shifts to disseminate information to the general public through media.