God created man as one of his magnificent creatures, and he has ruled the earth for millennia with his wisdom. Men with such thinking skills came up with the concept of a nation in Westphalia in 1648 when the world was on the edge of collapsing due to war and struggle. The formation of the concept of state necessitated the creation of some norms and regulations, as well as a supreme body to regulate and ensure their application. Despite the reality that history is riddled with the bloodiest and most costly war breakthroughs perpetrated by the same humans. As a result, various governments established bureaucratic entities to produce and oversee the public good and welfare in their own countries. In this digital age, the concept of policy implementation for better public benefit in the sphere of media presents a variety of problems and opportunities.
It’s a tool for disseminating information through newspapers, books, journals, and, more recently, the digital media, as defined by K. Pulitzer in his book Introduction to Mass Media. What impact does the media have in people’s engagement or disengagement? Will current developments assist in reshaping and constructing the ideal society that mankind desires? Will Pakistan’s bureaucracy achieve some desired effects by including media campaigns as part of their plans, or will this tool of the media create some sense of awareness among the population about the country’s current problems? Furthermore, with the enormous advancement in the digital age, every individual can use magic technology (smartphone) and has improved their ability to learn about the world’s unknowns.
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The internet is the most important invention in the world
The internet gave wings to information flow in the sphere of electronic media, even if the media existed previously in print. This breakthrough has changed the world in several ways, allowing various domestic and international agencies to transmit information deemed appropriate for society as well as self-interests.
Pakistan used the same pattern of governance that the British had left behind after independence. Since Pakistan remained under British authority and followed the same pattern under the Pakistan Civil Service in 1947, the idea of civil services was conceived by the British Empire. The newest format for how the bureaucracy is administered by officials designated into this supreme cadre of officials by the Federal Public Service Commission of Pakistan is still being debated (FPSC). Officers inducted through Central Superior Services, however, continue to have favourable effects (CSS). Despite ebbs and flows, the institution remains the finest of all the state’s institutions for establishing and implementing public policy.
During the COVID-19 crisis, which began in one location and expanded over the world in a couple of months, huge economic and social catastrophes arose. People were made aware of the outbreak through the media, and governments took urgent action to suppress it. Similarly, the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) was established in Pakistan as the primary entity responsible for implementing policies and regulating the situation. Various advertising and government body messages were broadcast, keeping the public informed about the best methods for avoiding mass casualties. Despite the fact that the number of casualties has risen to 2.5 million and is constantly rising, a major disaster was prevented thanks to a wise and timely choice.
The general public can communicate with members of the Pakistani bureaucracy who are already engaged on social media sites such as Twitter. People can now digitally send their message to the appropriate authorities/audience without having to wait in lines. Twitter, for example, is used by the bureaucracy to alleviate problems to the wider public and to ensure good governance.
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Another program that assists those in need is the Prime Minister’s citizen portal
Major requirements can be supplied by the media, which is the world’s most important enabling instrument. Is it possible for the media to serve the bureaucracy’s interests for the greater welfare of the public? If so, what are the mechanisms via which it can become more important in society? How can the huge flow of information be tracked and preserved in order to transform public policies, given our dependency on the media? Meanwhile, can the media play a role in bridging the gap between the ruled and the governing?
Data management, which involves the storing, organizing, and managing of data, can help authorities answer those queries. In hindsight, it is necessary to create data centers. Even though some centers are already working under the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, daily issues are not included. The government will be aware of challenges that the general public faces on a regular basis thanks to data management.
When state governments work together to eliminate society’s underlying ills, the questions can be legitimately interesting. The media can be useful in uplifting those challenges that the general public is facing, as Johan Galtung discusses in his conflict triangle that rotates between the fundamental issue and recognizing those traits and transforming them for the welfare of society. As a result, it is imperative that designated government authorities ensure good governance, such evils must be dealt with while using the media to distribute necessary information to the general public so that policies may be implemented more effectively.
Sikandar Azam Khan is a Research Officer at Balochistan Think Tank Network (BTTN) at BUITEMS, Quetta. The views expressed in the article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Global Village Space.