PESHAWAR: The Information Welfare Association has expressed concern over the prolonged absence of a Director General in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information and Public Relations Department and urged the provincial government to appoint the senior-most eligible officer to the post without delay.
The demand was made during a general body meeting held on Monday, where officers and staff said the absence of a permanent, full-time DG was affecting the department’s administrative and operational work.
Addressing the meeting, IWA President Muhammad Sajjad said the department’s officers were working under difficult circumstances, but the lack of senior leadership was creating problems for both the government and the public.
“The absence of a permanent, full-time DG is crippling the department’s administrative and operational efficiency,” he said.
Financial work affected
Director Administration Ibne Amin told the meeting that the DG serves as the sanctioning authority, and the vacant post had stalled important financial processes.
He said that with the financial year nearing its end, bills could not be processed without the DG’s approval and signature.
According to him, casual staff at radio stations may face delays in salaries if the post is not filled immediately. Payments for other expenditures also remain pending.
He said the department has 23 Drawing and Disbursing Officer codes, none of which can function properly in the absence of the DG.
The meeting was also informed that the department may face difficulty complying with a contempt of court notice related to outstanding payments to newspapers, which the court has directed to be cleared without delay.
Shortage of staff and PROs
Participants also noted a shortage of officers and staff, particularly after the recent expansion of the provincial cabinet.
They said Public Relations Officers needed to be posted with newly inducted cabinet members to ensure official communication and media coordination.
The meeting unanimously decided to form a representative committee to meet the Secretary Information, Minister for Information and Chief Secretary.
The committee will request immediate action to end the administrative deadlock and appoint the senior-most eligible officer as Director General of the department.
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