ISLAMABAD, Jul 21 (APP): Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said on Monday that it was the job of the Information Ministry to promote and project a positive perception of the country.
Speaking as the chief guest at the passing out ceremony of the 41st Specialized Training Programme (STP) of the Information Group, he congratulated all the officers who have successfully completed this rigorous and highly important training.
He said he was not only delighted but highly encouraged, and he has a great sense of hope after meeting the young probationers here today. The minister said that the future of this country and the Information Service was very bright. He said the Information group played a vital role not only in the functioning of the government but also in highlighting its policies and projecting its narrative, improving the country’s image abroad, and building a narrative in regard to the country’s progress, prosperity, development, and who we are as people.
The job of the officers of the Information Service was not only to defend the ideology of the country but the basis of the creation of Pakistan, but also to promote a soft image of the country.
More often than not, this is a very thankless job as in this service you require utmost dedication and hard work, he said, adding that the contribution made by this group to the progress of the country had been immense.
The minister said more recently, it gives me immense pride to acknowledge that in recent Indo-Pak standoff was a testimony to the overall success of Pakistan, but the contribution that the Information Ministry had made in Pakistan’s success was immense, as the first war was the information war.
“The first was the challenge of narrative, and I am very proud to say that we passed in flying colours. Our services, our contribution to that war, were acknowledged at the highest level. Despite certain limitations, we made innovations, because if you don’t change with time, time will change you.”
The transformation of Digital Media Wing into the Digital Communication Department has enabled the ministry to
perform its duties more effectively. He said that the officers of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting have to perform in different ministries and departments, at the provincial level, and even outside Pakistan.
“You have reached here after a great struggle, and you carry great aspirations, and you have become part of this after passing a competitive examination and passing courses in the service as well.”
After completion of training, the probationers of this group will start practical life. This service demands its officers to perform in all spheres and all sectors. The officers of Information Service are posted in various ministries, departments provincial governments, and all over the world.
“We must acknowledge that no work can be accomplished without collective efforts and teamwork. Good work done by the officers creates a good name for themselves, their families, but also for the Information Group”, he added.
He said in recent times, there has been a great shift from mainstream media to digital media. This is a transformation that the senior officers of the Ministry had learnt with time, but you have grown up in the age of digital media.” Senior officers of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting are digital migrants and you are digital natives”, he added.
The minister said there must be a great connection between the newcomers and the seniors, as there will be great learning that they will attain in the job after going through this rigorous training process.
The minister opined that the digital wave carries with it new challenges because the mainstream media evolved from print to electronic media through the process of organized evolution. When electronic news channels were launched in Pakistan, and they were seen as a means of news communication and mass communication, it was an evolution which carried with it whole processes like content control, editorial boards, editorial policy and certain codes of conduct.
But the new media, which is digital media, has not evolved from any old institution of any old institution or any old method, so the new media has its own peculiarities as it was developed on its own, so was carrying great challenges with it.
He said there will be great expectations from the new officers to tackle these challenges as the greatest challenge of present times was fake news, propaganda and disinformation.
The burden that the officers of the Information Ministry carried on their shoulders was much heavier than it was perceived.
Information Service group had a long list of unsung heroes who had done wonders for the country.
“Recently we have started a series in which we are going to acknowledge those unsung heroes who dedicated their lives to service of Pakistan”, he announced.
He assured the information officers that as long as he was the minister the services of the group will be acknowledged in Pakistan and abroad.
He wished all the best the probationers for future career who had been assigned ministries and departments. He said that the reputation that they will earn in start of service will carry throughout their career.
He expressed the hope that the new officers will earn laurels for not only information group but the country as well.
The role of Information Ministry in projection of the image of the country and the performance of the government had grown in due course of time and it will continue to grow.
In the he expressed the hope that new officers of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will carry the mantle that was passed on by their seniors to them.