NWFP Secretary Information, Muhammad Afzal Khan has said "2005 will be the year of promotions for information department". This he said while addressing the "Eid Milan Party" held on Saturday at the Directorate of Information in Peshawar. A large number of officers and officials of the department attended the party on this occasion.
In his heart-to-heart talk to his subordinates, provincial secretary information said, "By God, I am more loyal to you than your own selves. The Almighty Allah has sent me to break the prevailing monotony and stagnation of the department and change the fate of its people".
He exhorted the officials of the information department to perform their duties with honesty, dedication and hard work and then leave results to the Almighty Allah. It was really a rare and strange moment, at least in the case of information department, when the provincial head of the department asked even the lowest grade staff to air his grievances, if any.
The speakers on this occasion also turned this rare opportunity to their benefit and openly made their grievances known to the secretary. It was really the practical demonstration of the proverbial couplet, explaining the story of "Mehmood and Ayaz standing side by side in a row."
In reply to the speakers' contentions, Muhammad Afzal Khan said that he wanted to raise the people of information department to a respectable position and that too in days and weeks. He said that service structure and all other problems would be solved on priority basis.
Regarding nomination of three officers of the department for grant of award, he said that he has taken this decision purely on merit adding that others should also work hard so that they could also be nominated for award. He said that he expected co-operation from the people of information department in issues of merit and uprightness.
Regarding female employees of the department, Muhammad Afzal Khan said that our Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) used to give special attention to matters of women, children and aged people, therefore he has also followed in footsteps of his beloved Prophet. He said that we have to own the glorious manners of our Holy Prophet and treat even the non-Muslims righteously to show to the non-Muslim world the real face of our religion.
Secretary information, on this occasion also thanked the newspaper owners for extending their full co-operation in the government's campaign against aerial firing. He said the government would also pay in the same coins to the newspapers and extend full co-operation to them.
Later, the secretary information prayed for worldly and eternal success of the people of information department.