{"id":4774,"date":"2025-01-17T06:47:16","date_gmt":"2025-01-17T06:47:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/transparency.org.pk\/new-event\/?p=4774"},"modified":"2025-01-17T06:50:48","modified_gmt":"2025-01-17T06:50:48","slug":"ahsan-iqbal-for-vibrant-media-to-ensure-transparency-public-engagement-in-governmental-policies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/transparency.org.pk\/new-event\/2025\/01\/17\/ahsan-iqbal-for-vibrant-media-to-ensure-transparency-public-engagement-in-governmental-policies\/","title":{"rendered":"Ahsan Iqbal for vibrant media to ensure transparency, public engagement in governmental policies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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ISLAMABAD, Jan 16 (APP): Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Minister Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday, in a roundtable conference with Pakistan\u2019s foremost journalists and bureau chiefs, outlined the government\u2019s strategic direction under the National Economic Transformation Plan \u2018URAAN PAKISTAN.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The session was aimed to realign the media\u2019s focus towards the indispensable role it plays in promoting national development and in informing the public about government strategies aimed at transforming the economic landscape of the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ahsan Iqbal asserted the need for an informed and active media to ensure transparency and public engagement in governmental policies. \u201cThe media serves as the bridge between the government and the public, and it is essential that this bridge be strong and well-informed, especially as we undertake major developmental initiatives under URAAN PAKISTAN,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Detailing the environmental and economic challenges Pakistan faces, he cited recent natural disasters that inflicted heavy losses on the country\u2019s economy, underscoring the urgency of preemptive measures to secure food and water supplies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He elaborated on several initiatives being rolled out, including the development of climate-resilient agricultural practices and the integration of cutting-edge technologies like drone and satellite imaging to revolutionize farming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAdapting our agriculture to climate change is not just a necessity but a priority under URAAN PAKISTAN, ensuring our food security and the livelihood of millions depends on these measures,\u201d explained Prof. Iqbal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turning to the energy sector, the minister highlighted the misalignment between energy production and demand that has resulted in a costly surplus. He outlined corrective strategies including better utilization of existing infrastructure and reducing energy theft, which is rampant in several urban areas. \u201cOur focus is on optimizing the infrastructure developed under CPEC to enhance energy efficiency and connect with markets in Central and South Asia, making Pakistan a key energy corridor in the region,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Addressing social sector reforms, Prof. Iqbal emphasized the critical need for enhancing the nation\u2019s educational and healthcare systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He discussed the government\u2019s commitment to increasing literacy rates and improving health service accessibility, which are pivotal for sustainable development. \u201cUnder URAAN PAKISTAN, we aim to transform our social infrastructure to provide equitable and quality education and healthcare for all citizens, which is fundamental to eradicating poverty and achieving economic empowerment,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The minister also underscored the importance of integrating women and youth into the workforce, detailing government initiatives aimed at increasing female participation in the economy and equipping the youth with necessary skills, particularly in information technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEmpowering our women and youth is not just a social necessity but a strategic economic policy. Initiatives under URAAN PAKISTAN are designed to harness their potential to drive our nation\u2019s economic growth,\u201d Prof. Iqbal asserted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He urged the media to devote more coverage to developmental issues and to the ongoing initiatives under URAAN PAKISTAN.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He stressed the need for the media to shift its focus from predominantly political narratives to more development-oriented content. \u201cThe media must take an active role in not just reporting but shaping a discourse that supports our developmental goals. It is imperative that the narratives we build today are reflective of the aspirations and potential of our nation tomorrow,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

ISLAMABAD, Jan 16 (APP): Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Minister Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday, in a roundtable conference with Pakistan\u2019s foremost journalists and bureau chiefs, outlined the government\u2019s strategic direction under the National Economic Transformation Plan \u2018URAAN PAKISTAN.\u2019 The session was aimed to realign the media\u2019s focus towards the indispensable role it […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[96],"tags":[97],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/transparency.org.pk\/new-event\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4774"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/transparency.org.pk\/new-event\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/transparency.org.pk\/new-event\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/transparency.org.pk\/new-event\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/transparency.org.pk\/new-event\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4774"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/transparency.org.pk\/new-event\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4774\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4776,"href":"https:\/\/transparency.org.pk\/new-event\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4774\/revisions\/4776"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/transparency.org.pk\/new-event\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4774"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/transparency.org.pk\/new-event\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4774"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/transparency.org.pk\/new-event\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4774"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}