The Ministry of Communications (;

reporting name Reporting may refer to * any activity that leads to reports * in particular business reporting * Data reporting * Sustainability reporting * Financial reporting * international reporting of financial information for tax purposes under the OECD's ...

: MoCom), is a

Cabinet-level A cabinet in governing is a group of people with the constitutional or legal task to rule a country or state, or advise a head of state, usually from the executive branch. Their members are known as ministers and secretaries and they are ...

ministry of the

Pakistani Government The Government of Pakistan () (abbreviated as GoP), constitutionally known as the Federal Government, commonly known as the Centre, is the national authority of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, a federal republic located in South Asia ...

responsible for analysing, formulating and implementing central policy on communications and transportation. It is one of the oldest ministries, created on 14 August 1947. The Ministry of Communications has jurisdiction over

telegraph Telegraphy is the long-distance transmission of messages where the sender uses symbolic codes, known to the recipient, rather than a physical exchange of an object bearing the message. Thus flag semaphore is a method of telegraphy, whereas ...

and

telephone A telephone, colloquially referred to as a phone, is a telecommunications device that enables two or more users to conduct a conversation when they are too far apart to be easily heard directly. A telephone converts sound, typically and most ...

communications as well as

public radio Public broadcasting (or public service broadcasting) is radio, television, and other electronic media outlets whose primary mission is public service with a commitment to avoiding political and commercial influence. Public broadcasters receive ...

, technical means of radio and television broadcasting and the distribution of periodicals. The Ministry and its political executive, the Communications Minister, are headquartered in the Cabinet Secretariat, Islamabad Capital Venue. The Communications Minister is a public appointee who must be a member of

Parliament In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...

History

When the Ministry was created in 1947, Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar was appointed as the first Communications Minister. The Communications Ministry was merged in 1971–72 with the Ministry of Hajj. In 1974 the Ministry of Hajj again became a separate Ministry, and the new Ministry of Communications and Railways was formed. Railways broke off in later years, became a Division of the Communications Ministry from 2002–03 and then separated again. In 2004 the Ports and Shipping Wing became an independent Division of the Ministry.

Functions

The Communications Ministry performs a wide array of functions. These include promoting international competitiveness of exports, integrating remote areas of the country into the national economy, ensuring safe and smooth travel on national roads, providing an efficient, reliable and speedy postal service comparable to private alternatives, researching road engineering, building and management, and expanding national road networks. The Ministry also works to increase the standard of its own operations through prioritising development projects and operational activities according to national needs, providing support to the economy, improving project monitoring and implementation, improving the quality of human resources, using incentives and discipline to enhance good governance, and improving values and ethics.

Organisation

National Highway Authority

The National Highway Authority is responsible for building and maintaining highways and motorways in Pakistan. The objective of the NHA is to "plan, promote and organize programmes for construction, development, operation, repairs & maintenance of National Highways, Motorways & strategic roads.

National Highways & Motorway Police

National Highways & Motorway Police (NH&MP) is a police force in Pakistan that is responsible for enforcement of traffic and safety laws, security and recovery on Pakistan's

National Highways National Highways (NH), formerly Highways England and before that the Highways Agency, is a State-owned enterprise, government-owned company charged with operating, maintaining and improving Roads in England, motorways and major A roads in Eng ...

and Motorway network.

National Transport Research Centre

National Transport Research Centre (NTRC) was established in June 1974 in the Planning and Development Division as one of its Technical Sections to provide much-needed research and development (R&D) support for planning and appraisal of transport sector projects/plans in a coordinated and cost-effective manner. NTRC was transferred as such to the Communications Division in November 1992. It is effectively functioning as an R&D Wing of the Ministry of Communications.

Construction Machinery Training Institute

Construction Machinery Training Centre (CMTC) was established in May 1986 with the assistance of the Government of Japan through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The centre, having successfully met the aims and objectives, was upgraded in 1992 and renamed as Construction Machinery Training Institute.

Postal Division

Pakistan Post

Pakistan Post is a state enterprise dedicated to providing a wide range of postal products and public services in Pakistan. It is the largest postal service in the country.

Pakistan Post Foundation

Pakistan Post Foundation (PPF) was established in 1990 as a trust to generate resources and promote the social well-being present and retired postal employees through commercial ventures.

Allocation of business

The Federal Government has allocated the following business to the ministry under ''Schedule II, Rules of Business 1973'': * National planning, research and international aspects of road and road transport * National highways and strategic roads, including administration of the National Highway Council and Authority, Central Road Fund and Fund for Roads of National Importance. * Mechanically propelled vehicles, through the Transport Advisory Council and Urban Road Transport Corporation * Enemy property * National Highways & Motorway Police

List of Communications Ministers of Pakistan

External links

Website

References

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Communications Communication is commonly defined as the transmission of information. Its precise definition is disputed and there are disagreements about whether Intention, unintentional or failed transmissions are included and whether communication not onl ...

* Communications in Pakistan

Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...