ISLAMABAD, Aug 3: Entrusted with the responsibility to promote a positive image of Pakistan, the Ministry of Culture and its two subordinate organisations are surprisingly functioning with 46 positions lying vacant.

The National Assembly on Thursday was told that with five unfilled seats in the ministry itself, shortfall of 19 employees in the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) and the maximum of 22 vacancies in Lok Virsa Islamabad, the three bodies were without researchers, executives, engineers and even drivers and gardeners.

Responding to the question asked by PPP MNA Shamshad Sattar Bachani, Minister of Culture Dr G.G. Jamal told the house that these seats were vacant either because of shortage of funds or shortfall of qualified officers.

However, the minister was lucky as the speaker announced adjournment of the proceedings without taking up following questions due to the death of a fellow parliamentarian.

According to the minister, recruitment was under way for section officer, senior research officer, research officer, etc.

Shortage of funds, the minister explained, was the reason for the large number of unfilled seats in the PNCA including top positions like its director (BS-19) and deputy director (BS-18). He said appointments against these posts could not made earlier due to shortage or delay in release of funds.

Nonetheless, advertisements had been placed in the press and recruitment for the PNCA director, deputy director, administrator, stage manager, light in charge and store officers, besides several others was underway.

Twenty-two seats that needed to be filled in Lok Virsa in Islamabad, included its deputy director, programme executive, engineer, programme organiser, driver, gardeners and sweepers.