ISLAMABAD - Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Maryam Aurangzeb yesterday took oath of her office.
President Mamnoon Hussain administered the oath in a ceremony in Presidency. She would assume the charge of her office today (Thursday).
Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, members of the federal cabinet, parliamentarians and other dignitaries also attended the oath taking ceremony.
Earlier, Prime Minster Nawaz Sharif nominated her as State Minister for Information after stepping down former information minster Pervaiz Rashid on the issue of the controversial story published in an English Daily. Later talking to media, Maryam Aurangzeb said that the government believes in the freedom of media and is taking concrete steps for the welfare of journalists.
She said the media should play its role to present soft image of the country before the world. She said the media should further improve the level of implementation of the Code of Conduct and responsibility in highlighting the reforms agenda of the country.
She said that Pakistan is passing through a defining movement and all the citizens of the country should play their positive role at this stage. She said that all the political parties and constitutional institutions should play their due role in implementation of the development roadmap of the country. She said the steps taken by the government are leading Pakistan towards a positive direction of development and prosperity. She said the economy of the country has improved significantly and number of development projects started in different sectors. She said the schools reforms programme and health projects started all over the country would uplift the living standard of the common people. Maryam Aurangzeb said that the government is committed for complete elimination of terrorism from the country and there are eighty-five per cent decreases in terrorism in the country.