Media not spreading coronavirus: secretary information

ISLAMABAD: Federal Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Akbar Hussain Durrani has said that newspapers were not the source for spreading coronavirus, so there was no proposal under consideration to slap ban on printing of newspapers.

He also said that the government would not impose any kind of ban on TV channels.

In an exclusive talk with a news agency, the information secretary said that the importance of media has increased immensely especially in the aftermath of outbreak of COVID-19, so no question arises to slap ban on printing of newspapers or airing TV channels. He said media is an authentic source communicating accurate information to the masses. He said that now the responsibility for disseminating information lied with the media. “We expect that the media will help the government to convey accurate information to the masses,” he maintained.

He said that the media should launch special campaign to create awareness among the masses related to combating coronavirus.

The media, he said, would have to create awareness among the masses about the ways and means to ensure preventive from eruption of COVID-19.

The secretary said that so far one case of coronavirus diagnosed among employers of Ministry of Information & Broadcasting’s Cyber Wing and instructions were issued to provide all kind of health facilities. The concerned officers were in close contact with the employee who was diagnosed having suffering from COVID-19, he added.

He said that if any employee of Ministry of Information & Broadcasting or its attached departments and wings is diagnosed with COVID-19 he or she should contact with Mohisteen Alvi, joint secretary.

“We are not sacred of coronavirus but will fight with it effectively,” he further said and added that they were discharging their assigned task but all employees were directed to comply with placed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure their safety.

Akbar Durrani, who had earlier served at different important positions including Punjab chief secretary and other federal ministries during his carrier, said that experienced employees were serving into Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and some officers possessed experience of over 30 years. The Foreign Office has sought views of Information Ministry for appointing officers of information group to serve into Pakistani embassies in African countries as Press Counselors and Press Attaches and the Ministry agreed to this proposal.

To another query regarding questions raised on the summary of appointment of press attaches and press counselors, he said that they dispatched replies of all queries and if more question arose they would reply them promptly.

He said that all those officers who served at good foreign stations they would not be given similar stations. With approval of Prime Minister, he said the foreign posting process of information group officers would be accomplished.