Info ministry’s secret fund not to be used for political gains: Pervez Rashid

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Pervez Rashid Friday said the government would not conceal facts from the masses and assured that secret fund of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting would not be used for personal or political gains.

Talking to reporters soon after taking oath at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, he pointed out that not a single rupee of the secret fund was utilized in Punjab during last five years.

To a question, he said that the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) government in Punjab got the ‘Access to Information’ law passed by the provincial assembly and said there was no reason the same could not be done at the federal level in future.

He said the people despite tremendous difficulties appreciated things if they were taken into confidence and they were aware that the national resources were being spent judiciously.

To a question, he said the heads of public sector corporations would be appointed through a transparent process and strictly on merit from amongst the competent people.

He said an advertisement for the purpose had already been published inviting applications from Pakistani nationals at home and abroad. He said the applications would be processed by a firm of international repute and the selections would be made from amongst the candidates short-listed by that company.

Senator Pervez Rashid said Maulana Fazlur Rehman had introduced a new political culture as his talks with PML(N) were not based on give and take of the ministries but on principles.

He acknowledged the services of journalists who were working in difficult situations and sometimes had to risk their lives as well. He said the welfare of the families of journalists who got killed in the line of their duties, was the state’s responsibility.