Ambreen Jan appointed federal information secretary

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has appointed Ambreen Jan as Federal Secretary for Information and Broadcasting with an immediate effect. Jan has assumed her new responsibilities.

Ambreen Jan was the executive director general for External Publicity (EP) Wing of the ministry before her elevation. The officers and employees of the ministry have felicitated her on the posting. Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ataullah Tarar was among those who congratulated Ambreen on her taking up the new assignment.

Her appointment has been made under Section 10 of the Civil Servants Act 1973. She is currently a senior officer of the Information Group (IG) in Grade 21.

According to official sources, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif interviewed the probable hopefuls in the presence of Tarar. The minister reportedly supported picking an officer from the IG.

The sources pointed out that her promotion for the top grade was due and it would come up for consideration in the next High-Powered Board (HPB) meeting to be chaired by the prime minister.

Officers of the I&B ministry hosted a farewell dinner in honour of the outgoing federal secretary Shaheera Shahid at Serena, which was attended by the minister and senior officials of the federal government. The new federal secretary also attended it.

Meanwhile, the APNS in a statement welcomed and congratulated Ms Ambreen Jan on her appointment as Secretary Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Ms Nazafreen Saigol Lakhani, President, and Sarmad Ali, Secretary General of the APNS, hoped that during her tenure as Secretary Information Ms Ambreen would protect and safeguard the freedom of press and address the problems of print media. They are confident during her tenure, the print media would continue to enjoy good relations with the ministry and government as it did during the tenure of Ms Shahera Shahid, the outgoing secretary Information.

The APNS office-bearers hoped that issues pertaining to the print media, which are still pending, would be addressed. These include the implementation of already approved increase in government advertisement rates, increase in the quantum of government advertising and payments of outstanding dues.