News
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
SC questions public spending on media ads* Court directs all chief secretaries, Islamabad commissioner to explain whether use of public money on advertisement campaign is permissible or not
By Hasnaat Malik
ISLAMABAD: Expressing concern over spending of public money on media advertisements without rules and regulation, the Supreme Court has directed all chief secretaries as well as the Islamabad commissioner to submit a report explaining as to whether use of public money by government departments on advertisement campaigns is permissible or not.
The court also questioned whether such types of media advertisements, in which photographs of government functionaries were being used, was allowed under the rules.
It also directed counsels for the Ministry of Information and Ministry of Information Technology to submit before it a list of advertisement companies and funds allocated to them and how munch amount was annually spent on publication of advertisements by various ministries.
A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, is hearing a case regarding the issue of payment of Rs 147 million through ad agency Midas to various newspapers for publication of ads on the request of the Universal Service Fund (USF), which was formed in 2007.
It is to be noted that the purpose of the USF is to work for the telecom infrastructure in remote areas and its source of income is 1.5 percent of the revenue of telecom companies. The total amount of USF is near Rs 49 billion.
During the hearing, Information Technology Secretary Tariq Zaman told the bench USF’s board, which consists of eight members, had decided on media advertisement, therefore, Rs 147 million had been allocated in this regard.
The bench repeatedly asked the secretary whether rules of the USF department had allowed them to advertise in the media, but he failed to provide and answer. The CJP expressed concern over the contents of media ads in which pictures of political leaders were displayed. He said if anyone wanted his advertisement, he should spend money from his own pocket rather than using public money for the purpose.
Meanwhile, the court adjourned the hearing until December 7.Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk