Karachi, Pakistan: The Global Neighbourhood for Media Innovation (GNMI), in collaboration with the Commissioner Karachi Division, hosted a high-level needs assessment meeting aimed at strengthening institutional competitiveness, optimizing district administration, and improving crisis management across Karachi’s seven districts.
The event, chaired by Commissioner Karachi, Syed Hasan Naqvi, brought together additional commissioners and deputy commissioners from the city’s administrative districts. The session opened with remarks by Additional Commissioner Karachi, Syed Mehdi Shah, who highlighted the significance of upcoming training for bureaucrats in district administration. Mr. Shah highlighted the necessity of equipping public servants with the tools needed to traverse an increasingly complex governance landscape in metropolis.
Najia Ashar, President of GNMI, formally launched the discussions, reiterating her organization’s commitment to enhancing the capacity of public and private sector officials. Reflecting on GNMI’s prior initiatives, including capacity-building programs for criminal justice practitioners in Sindh, Punjab, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), she emphasized the organization's focus on strengthening public institutions and promoting excellence in public
service delivery.
The interactive session, moderated by media and crisis communication expert Afia Salam, highlighted key challenges faced by senior public servants in managing district-level crises. Salam’s presentation provided an insightful overview of the operational hurdles and the nuanced concept of "crisis perception, illustrating how a crisis for one entity could serve as an opportunity for another. Participants engaged in candid discussions, presenting field-specific issues and collaboratively identifying actionable solutions aimed at mitigating risks.
Deputy Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners shared real-world challenges encountered in their administrative duties, with a special focus on aligning media strategies with crisis management. The dialogue facilitated a deeper understanding of strategic approaches to governance and risk management.
In his concluding address, Commissioner Karachi Syed Hasan Naqvi lauded GNMI’s efforts in leading this vital initiative, emphasizing the need for continuous capacity-building programs for government officers and their teams. He reiterated his commitment to strengthening partnerships
that empower public officials to excel in crisis management and media engagement.
The meeting concluded with a strong sense of purpose and actionable takeaways aimed at enhancing governance and public service delivery. Participants applauded GNMI’s initiative as a transformative step toward improving the effectiveness of public administration and crisis
response mechanisms.
Senior broadcast journalist Faysal Aziz Khan highlighted the media's role in governance, stating, Effective crisis communication is not just about managing situations about building trust and transparency with the public." Likewise, Syed Masood Raza, General Secretary GNMI, emphasized the importance of partnerships, saying, "Collaboration between public servants and media professionals is key to driving sustainable improvements in governance and public service delivery." Husnain Raza, Director of GNMI, also lent his expertise to the proceedings.
This collaborative effort emphasizes bridging gaps in governance and media utilization while equipping Karachi's administration to handle crises more effectively.
The Global Neighbourhood for Media Innovation (GNMI) is a media development organization that actively supports public and private sector organizations and governments through capacity-building, good governance, and media literacy initiatives.
Follow the PNI Facebook page for the latest news and updates.
