Information Dept to be abolis

This proposal was supported by Secretary IC&YA Department Orya Maqbool Jan Abassi when in a summary he averred that blending of both culture and tourism together would provide an opportunity for working closely as there was very little to offer in the Punjab in other fields of tourism, like natural sites. It was stated so considering the fact that the Punjab was a crucible of different civilisations, cultures and heritages, which provided unmatched attractions to tourists.

He also included Libraries and Archives, functioning under the Education Department and the S&GAD respectively, for bringing them under the proposed department. He suggested that libraries, coupled with the cultural complexes of arts councils and museums through out the province, would develop direct association with the cultural bodies for further interaction with the society.

However, the present IC&YAD rubbed out the ‘Information’ nomenclature from the Department by coming up with the Culture, Tourism, Archives, Libraries and Youth Affairs Department. “This has been done primarily by making an effort at doing away with the DGPR, and placing it under the S&GAD, as previously it used to be,” said the source adding that these all steps would be taken by amending the Punjab Government Rules of Business 1974.

“The abolishing of the Information Department is expected to be met with strong resistance considering that all the provinces have already created an iconic presence of Secretaries Information for an apparent purpose of representing the respective governments in the media. The adversaries of this idea can maintain that for inter-provincial equivalence and uniformity, the Punjab must retain the Information Department as well,” maintained the source hinting at the possibility of move would be shot down.