PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Monday said the government and media were two important pillars of the state and their strong bond was imperative for the dispensation of justice to the people and resolution of their problems, transparency of affairs, and the successful execution of development schemes.

“A strong liaison exists between the government and media. This bond needs to become even stronger through mutual cooperation and support,” he told the oath-taking ceremony of the newly-elected cabinet of the Peshawar Press Club here at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.

Information minister Shaukat Yousafzai, adviser to the chief minister on merged districts Ajmal Wazir, Peshawar Press Club president Syed Bukhar Shah and journalists were also present on the occasion.

The chief minister asked journalists to inform the people about development schemes being executed by the government in line with the premier’s vision of making Pakistan a prosperous country.

Mahmood administers oath to members of Peshawar Press Club body

He also urged them to ‘honestly’ point out flaws in the moves of the government’s representatives and departments.

“We will consider the media’s positive criticism of our policies and moves to be an advice and will accept it as guideline for streamlining implementation system,” he said.

Mr Mahmood said the people at the helm of affairs were human beings, so they could commit mistakes, which needed to be pointed out by the media.

Referring to the demands made by the Peshawar Press Club president, the chief minister promised action on his orders issued earlier regarding the provision of plots to media persons of Peshawar in the prime minister’s housing scheme.

He said he had promised the allotment of plots to all members of the Peshawar Press Club and stood by it.

The chief minister handed over a cheque of Rs15 million to the press club president as a onetime grant by the government.

Earlier, he informed journalists that the government had approved the doubling of the annual press club grant from Rs3 million to Rs6 million.

Mr Mahmood directed the information minister and his adviser on the merged districts to discuss with journalists the renovation of the Peshawar Press Club’s dilapidated building.

He said any decision made in that respect with the consultation of journalists would be implemented in letter and spirit.

The information minister and adviser to the chief minister also addressed the ceremony.

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2020