Sindh Information Department

The Sindh Information Department is a department of the government of the province of Sindh in southern Pakistan.[1]

Functions

The main functions of the Sindh Information Department are to provide better and purposeful coverage to the activities of government, through both electronic and print media, for which purpose the department coordinates with the media and journalists. It communicates daily with the Governor, the Chief Secretary's administrative department/s, and other government functionaries, regarding relevant press coverage. Weekly reports of television coverage of Sindh are also made.

Department sections

Press information section

The press information section issues handouts, denials and clarifications to the print and electronic media, which normally get prominent coverage in national and regional news. Press briefings by various administrative officers are made at news conferences, and interviews with senior government officers are arranged regularly to highlight developmental activities as well as efforts to improve law and order, the campaign of anti-terrorist activity, and other steps taken by the Government of Sindh.

A media projection plan, which focuses on the following points for proper and better projection of government activities, has been circulated to all departmental offices:

Press conferences and briefings be held by the governor, ministers, chief secretary, secretaries, heads of autonomous bodies, heads of local councils, IGP, DIGs, DCs, SSPs once every month
Open kutchery be held by the governor, chief secretary, secretaries, head of autonomous bodies, head of local councils, IGP, DIGs, SSPs once every month
Each department should send its development programmer of the year (scheme-wise) in narrative form for continuous flow of reports connected with welfare of the people
Material relating to the departmental briefings and meetings be supplied to PROs attached to the departments for effective publicity
Visit and inspection of the ministers, and secretaries where there are no ministers, be publicised
Seminars and conventions be arranged and organised to ascertain the needs, demands and grievances of different segments of the population, for feedback to government for formulating policies covering all segments of the society, (e.g. agriculturists, labour leaders, industrialists, educationists, NGOs etc.)
Regular contacts with journalists be maintained through PROs to publicise the government's point of view so that, if at any time adverse news is published by any journalist, they should have the official view on the subject, as well as encouraging positive publicity
The education, social welfare, sports & culture department may be requested to organize functions in the area of their activities, duly covered by journalists through PROs
The related departments should organise meetings of journalists, writers, ulema, intellectuals, and consumer associations to earn their good will, and in order to create a sense of participation among the people
Rebuttals to negative news should be issued immediately by the relevant department
Effective relations be maintained with journalists through perpetual contact to establish a consensus of ideas among them
Aggressive publicity through columnists, writers, and public opinion moulders be ensured to counter criticism
Critical analysis of newspapers be undertaken to ascertain their inclination to favour or disfavour government, and PR offensives be initiated to mould their attitudes towards favouring government

If the above guidelines are followed by the departmental offices concerned, it is expected that Sindh Government's coverage will occupy the major portion of print media, because the number of officers who have to hold open Katcheries every month and involve themselves in other activities of public importance, exceeds 100

This section also arranges photographic coverage of official engagements of the Governor, the Sindh Chief Minister's advisor, Chief Secretary, administrative secretaries and other functionaries of various departments

Publications section

The monthly publications of the Information Department, namely "Izhar" (Urdu) and "Paigham" (Sindhi), which ceased in 1993, have been re-published since May, 1999. Efforts are underway to market them through the usual trading outlets.

Research and reference section

This section has also been fully reorganised. It now keeps government and semi-government departments informed of the miseries and hardships of people who make their wishes known to the relevant authorities through the print media. In keeping with this policy, press clippings regarding public demands and complaints, law and order, political statements (positive or negative), editorials, articles and news items of public interest are submitted to the chief executive of the province. Press clippings of different nature are also sent to the media advisor and the chief secretary.

Besides the above, press clippings pertaining to various Nation Building Departments, are sent daily to the heads of administrative departments for their attention. The rebuttals and clarifications received from the concerned departments are also sent to the print media for publicising the government's point of view.

Advertising section

This section processes advertisements placed in newspapers by various Sindh Government departments. A revised advertising policy was approved in 2000 by the provincial cabinet of Sindh. This policy is aimed at economising on space and cutting down expenditure drastically.

Several daily newspapers for which the Information Department processes government advertising, as well as those on the central media list approved by the federal government and certified by ABC, have been shortlisted in consultation with ISPR and APNS to contain releases of advertisements to dummy newspapers. A review committee, headed by the Deputy Director, ISPR, 5 Corps Headquarters, Karachi, has also been constituted to undertake periodical reviews of newspapers for the release of government advertisements.

The Information Department owes some Rs.134.22 million for advertising, unpaid due to lack of funding. In order to settle the outstanding dues, the Finance Department has so far provided a sum of Rs.60 million, out of which about Rs.20 million has been disbursed, while the remaining amount is being drawn from the audit. The disbursement of payment is processed and approved by the committee headed by the Deputy Director, ISPR, 5 Corps Headquarters, Karachi, and represented by the Finance Department by the Deputy Secretary.

Accreditation section

This section of the Sindh Information Department provides professional training and financial support to journalists as well as certifying the journalists at the provincial level. It also issues accreditation cards to journalists.

Film section

The Film Section now remains very active as it has been made to cover all important official functions, including those of the Governor of Sindh, chief ministers, chief secretary, sindh and administrative secretaries. Special reports and different programmers have prepared and made broadcasts through PTV/Radio Pakistan to motivate the public in securing their support for the government efforts to improve law and order, eliminate terrorism and other social activities. Similarly, TV coverage of the province is videotaped and send to the Governor, Chief Secretary and to Log Area Headquarters on a weekly basis.

The job of this section also includes scrutinising scripts to ensure that these do not contain any material that might further:

the commission of any offence
false rumors
condemnation of the creation of Pakistan
hatred or condemnation of the government
feelings of enmity
damage to relations between the government of Pakistan and other governments
indecency or obscenity

Administration section

The Administration Section has been reactivated. There are daily meetings to discuss actions on a day-to-day basis of important matters, with weekly follow-up meetings to review the disposal of government business and its implementation status.

Press section

This section has been completely reorganized to keep monitoring the English, Urdu and Sindhi press, a summary of which is prepared and sent on daily to the Governor, Chief Secretary and Log Area Headquarters. Weekly and monthly progress reports of the activities being carried out by the Information Department, including the Divisional Headquarters, are also dealt with by this department. The following additional functions are also the responsibility of press section:-

Issuance of NOCs for the declaration of various publications
Making recommendations for the cancellation of declarations to concerned authorities
Monitoring of press publications through gratis copies

Press laws

The now defunct West Pakistan Press and Publication Ordinance 1963, and the Registration of Printing Press and Publications Ordinance 1990, remained in force until 1996 when, on 2 November 1996, a new ordinance, the Press and Publication Ordinance, was promulgated.

The ordinance of 1996, having not been extended, lapsed under the provisions of article 89 of the Constitution of Pakistan. According to the Advocate General, Sindh, the "previous ordinance of 1963 has automatically been revived by virtue of Article 264 of the Constitution of Pakistan." This view has been endorsed by the Law Department.

The above law is being considered by the press as black law. The matter was discussed in the inter-provincial ministers' conference held on 12 February 1999, which had decided to examine and suggest amendments (if any) in the drafts of the following proposed laws: a) Press Protection and Facilitation Act, 1997 (which would repeal the defunct West Pakistan Press and Publications Ordinance, 1990) b) Press Council and Enforcement of Code of Ethics for Press, Publications and News Agencies Act

The draft comments offered by the Information Department, Government of Sindh, duly vetted by the Law Department, were sent to the Ministry of Information and Media Development, Government of Pakistan.

The matter was also discussed in the consultative and coordination meeting held on 8 February 2000, in which the need for creating a law for news agencies was acknowledged.

Divisional and District Offices

The divisional and district offices perform the same functions at the divisional or district level with which constant coordination is maintained to monitor activity.

Links between the Information Department and the electronic media

The Sindh Information Department has strong and close relations with print media, as well as enhancing electronic media of the country in manipulating public opinion. The film section of the department is working closely with electronic media. It can help in educating the masses. The mobile film unit of the department held film shows at various places in the interior of Sindh. These shows were evoked interest in a large number of people.

Television

The Sindh Information Department provides more films and news to PTV because it a national television channel, but the trend is rapidly changing with the emergence of private television channels. The Department is enjoying influential relations with the national television broadcaster (PTV).

Radio

The Sindh Information Department provides news to Pakistan radio in the same way it does for television insofar as it provides comparatively more news for Pakistan national radio than it doesa for private FM radio stations.

Respected Sir, With profound respect, I humbly recall your kind attention towards it is submitted that, the honourabale Mohtasib- (ombudsman) of Sindh, kind decision passed by dated 17-12-2013 on my complaint no. POS/1221/2012/DG-I on the subjected above. Honourable Sir, you have very kindly directed the defending party for submission of compliance report within 45 days. But that the period of 45 days has been expired MDA has not been implemented direction of In this regard, and in the light of honourable Mohtasib- (ombudsman) of Sindh, decision, I humbly submit that till to-date nothing has been heard from the defending party for allotment of an alternative plot of same size in the New Malir Housing Scheme-I, Malir Development Authority, nor the deposited amount with the interest accrued thereon has been given to me.

                  Honourable Sir,   MDA did not implement the decision of honourabale Mohtasib- (ombudsman) of Sindh. (Decision dated 17-12-2013 on my complaint No. POS/1221/2012/DG-I,). And MDA no department /person are authorized to take on charge the MDA as faulty institution. Apprehension I frequently agitating this matter, but MDA office is not taking seriously or avoid to considering the matter to me and mental worries torture and inconvenience, I am and other allottees of said scheme, are bona-fide citizens of Pakistan, although almost 18 years have lapsed, but no significant development works has so for been carried out. Initially, the MDA constructed a few roads and gave an impression that large-scale development works were underway, but this was another effort to hoodwink people, to collect huge amounts of money from allottees of said scheme and accumulate bank interest.

The peoples, who have been allotted the plots in the said scheme, are much nuisance and the MDA does not take any positive response for the shelter-less peoples who have paid the huge amount in installments. However, it is submitted that the MDA have also announced this scheme to be completed within five (5) years (60) month, MDA as clarified, it was mentioned in Clause No.6 of terms and conditions for allotment of plots, which is reproduced as follows:- “The period of completion and delivery of possession is expected to be (60) month from the date of confirmation of allotment provided that the installments are paid within time by the allottees.”

                        			(2)
        Who is responsible for the delay in completion of development work deliver the physical possession of said plots to allottees? Unfortunately, it is responsibility of MDA and not the shelterless allottees of said scheme, Malir Development Authority Sindh is responsible in all respect, according to the terms conditions, MDA office is to duty bond for completion of development works within the time and to deliver the physical possession of said plots to allottees of MDA Scheme-1. But Malir Development Authority Sindh have passed almost 18-years and failed to complete the said scheme, because it was plan to complete the said scheme within 60 months, and MDA did not collect the utility charges on actual basis according to the terms & conditions.
         Sir, the circumstance has been narrated above for your kind perusal and you will kindly judge the height of inefficiency of MDA Management. The said scheme is still incomplete after 18-years lapsed; MDA works not in progress and MDA using the delaying tactics for completion of the scheme and handing over the possession of plots to the allottees
        Sir, please note the height of inefficiency on the part of the MDA Management.

Many times I approached MDA officers in this connection with my requests/appeal but MDA no positive response has been given to me. They are using unfair tactics. I reserve the rights being law-abiding citizen of Pakistan. Please tell us to whom we should call for awarding justice to us.

	           By this mala-fide act, I have suffered a lot, and I am claiming the market value of the plot surrendered as well damages, MDA is under obligation to pay market value of plots well amount of damages details is below:-

MARKET VALUE OF ALLOTTED PLOT RS.50, 00,000/- MENTAL WORRIES TORTURE AND INCONVENIENCE RS.80,00,000/-

Finally keeping in view my hardships and difficulties, mentally worries torture and inconvenience kindly redressed my grievances by virtue of issuing orders to and take legal action against the Malir Development Authority concerned and may kindly be directed to MDA Authority concerned for directives MDA failing to either MDA Scheme-1 refund the cost of plot with existing market value for which to pay above mentioned amount to me MDA have to bear all the expenditures etc. on priority basis.

(3) In view of the above mentioned facts and honourabale Mohtasib- (ombudsman) of Sindh, decision, I again fervently request to your kind honour that suitable legal action be taken against the MDA defaulter department on account of contempt of honourable court ordinance 2003, in the light of honourabale Mohtasib- (ombudsman) of Sindh, decision It is respectfully prayed that my application / request directed to orders so that I may be to perform my duties without any worries, smoothly, I am faithful to your honor of justice for which I shall be highly obliged (obey) you ‘re honor of order’s. With best personal regards, Yours obediently,

(Zulfiqar Ali Sarki)

Plot No.A- 043, Sector-17, measuring 200 Square Yards, File No-28/96-A,(Booking No.52625), MDA.

References

http://www.sindharchives.gov.pk/index.aspx

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[1] ttp://www.sindharchives.gov.pk/index.aspx