Media asked to play proactive role in strengthening public accountability

Pakistan's Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal, has urged the media to play a proactive role in strengthening public accountability and focusing on key issues impacting the nation's development. Speaking at an event titled "Media Dialogue on Effective Development Communication," Iqbal stressed that journalists should concentrate on challenges hindering Pakistan's progress in areas such as literacy, population growth, early childhood development, educational access, export performance, and misuse of public funds.

Iqbal highlighted the need for the media to draw public attention to these crucial matters and hold institutions accountable. He pointed out that issues often ignored due to political controversies risked not receiving the necessary attention to be resolved effectively. Among the pressing issues, he mentioned slow progress in literacy, population growth, early childhood development, limited higher education access, poor export performance, and misuse of public development funds.

To address export concerns, Iqbal set a target of raising Pakistan's exports to USD100 billion by 2035, in comparison to Vietnam's growth from USD6 billion to USD475 billion during the same period. He emphasized the importance of investing in early childhood education and care, as 90 percent of a person's mental development occurs during the first five years of life.

He noted that only 13 percent of young people in Pakistan have access to higher education, compared to 30 percent in a neighboring country, 25 percent in Bangladesh, and 60 percent in China. Iqbal called for more discussion on improving the education and skills of Pakistan's youth.

Regarding governance, Iqbal criticized corruption, misuse of funds, and commissions in development projects, asserting that every rupee spent on development should be utilized for its intended purpose. He mentioned that the Planning Ministry has introduced measures for transparency, such as making development projects available online and establishing a public helpline for reporting fund misuse. However, he stressed that independent media monitoring is equally important in ensuring accountability.

Iqbal urged journalists to investigate the outcomes of development projects, not just their inaugurations, and to scrutinize the utilization of schools, university campuses, and laboratories. He also called for increased attention to preventive healthcare, tobacco use, passive smoking, and food adulteration, citing a recent survey showing that nearly half of tested samples of packaged milk and ghee did not meet quality standards.

The minister emphasized that development reporting should extend beyond official announcements and opening ceremonies, urging the media to explore the actual results of projects, highlight weaknesses, and encourage positive changes in public behavior. Iqbal stressed that engaging the media in development issues and involving the public actively could accelerate Pakistan's progress towards the 2047 vision.