Countering disinformation, fake news: Minister says DGPR to be modernised

LAHORE: Minister for Information Azma Bukhari has said Directorate General Public Relations (DGPR) will be equipped with modern lines so as to undertake vigorous advertisement of the Punjab government’s vision, policies and development agenda along with effectively countering the challenges of disinformation and fake news.

Azma Bukhari expressed these views while communicating with the DGPR officers and taking a departmental briefing. Azma Bukhari while addressing the meeting urged to effectively portray the performance of the Punjab government on the electronic and social media platforms, adding that the role of digital media is of paramount importance in this regard.

She maintained that she would encourage the hardworking and professionally honest officers as well as staff members. She highlighted that the DGPR officers are the eyes and ears of the Punjab government and their pivotal role with regard to effective projection of the government’s policies is highly imperative.

Azma Bukhari underscored that the officers posted at the DGPR head office and in the divisions as well as districts will have to burn a midnight oil to effectively highlight the performance and welfare polices of the Punjab government. The minister while stressing the need to revamp the official website and the DGPR digital media wing also sought proposals for its streamlining.

Ministers felicitated

Post Graduate Medical Institute/Ameeruddin Medical College Principal Prof Dr Al-Fareed Zafar and Dean Institute of Public Health Prof Dr Zarfishan Tahir have congratulated Khwaja Salman Rafiq and Khwaja Imran Nazir on assuming the portfolio of health ministers.

They expressed hope that Kh Salman Rafiq and Kh Imran Nazir would work for the betterment and development of health sector, welfare of health professionals, according to the glorious tradition of their past and they would continue efforts for providing free medicines and other facilities to patients in hospitals and improving public health in the province, making Punjab a model province in terms of health care delivery system.