STAFF REPORT ISB: At a time when the government of Pakistan is rigorously taking initiatives to promote the culture of science and technology in the country at all levels, the bosses of Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) are allegedly denting this vision and mission by taking non-professional or immature decisions – making of its Media Cell virtually redundant as one of them.
The Media Cell is a statutory entity of the PSF, which was proposed in 2006 and was duly sanctioned in 2009 by the Board of Directors of the Foundation after a deep consideration realizing the dire need to promote as well as encourage the science and technology activities across the country through involving the national media both print and electronic.
Presently, no relevant official has been deputed to look after the media affairs of the Foundation and coordinate with the journalist community.
“We feel isolated in terms of media interaction as all activities of the Media Cell have literally come to a halt with the removal of the core officials of this section,” an official, who did not wish to disclose his identity, told this scribe.
He, however, explained that two officials including a lady who have no experience of interacting with well aware media persons have been assigned to deal with media.
The official preferred to keep mum when questioned as to why these officials were removed from the Media Cell only saying that it was the decision of the higher management.
Similarly, the future of the PSF publication – a newsletter – which was launched in order to promote as well as highlight especially the Foundations activities, is now hanging in balance as no professional is available right now to develop its contents. “There is no official deputed so far to look after the newsletter for which a substantial budget has been allocated for the promotion as well as building the image of the PSF,” the official said adding this is absolutely against the spirit and mandate of the Foundation.