Ministries reluctant in implement of PIC orders regarding disclosure of information: Report 

Shazia Mehboob

Islamabad: The Pakistan Information Commission (PIC) is experiencing some serious difficulties in the implementation of directives for the government departments to provide information to citizens under the Right to Information Act, 2017. Some of the barriers in the way are of administrative, procedural and legal nature ever since its establishment in November 2018, according to the report released by CPDI, a non-governmental organization based in Islamabad.

 The federal ministries also remained sluggish in compliance with statutory obligations under the RTI Act: CPDI report

The federal ministries also remained sluggish in compliance with statutory obligations under the RTI Act. The findings of the report were shared by the CPDI Consultant Aftab Alam at a seminar organized by Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) in collaboration with the Pakistan Information Commission (PIC).
The report states, “Most of the public bodies failed to proactively disclose information on their websites as required by section 5 of the Right to Information Act.” Accordingly, the government authorities also showed reluctance in implementation of orders of the PIC.

The report intended to assess the quality of implementation of the Right of Access to Information Act 2017 and the possible impediments inhibitingit’s progress such as administrative loopholes, lack of required resources, ability to digitize the internal reporting and evaluation systems and other bureaucratic hurdles.

Transparency and meritocracy are the fundamental attributes of developed nations whilst acknowledging that the lack of political commitment remains the main hurdle in implementation of RTI in Punjab: PIC Mehboob Qadir

Punjab Information Commission Chief Mehboob Qadir Shah commented that transparency and meritocracy are the fundamental attributes of the developed nations whilst acknowledging that the lack of political commitment remains the main hurdle in implementation of RTI in Punjab. The newly appointed Sindh Information Commissioner (SIC) Chief, Nusrat Hussain, whilst appreciating the performance of his predecessors, said that despite a lack of administrative support and resources, 150 complaints were resolved of the total 165 received by the Sindh Info Commission. In the last week alone they have received more than 30 information requests from the citizens.

Watch video on RTI: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNvTB78jHnA&list=PLdcTEhodBioPhszz6AwdF_TbQwC8CP6lh

The newly appointed SIC chief expressed his determination to improve the SIC website to ensure proactive disclosure of information whereas lack of resources and staff are the main challenges for the Commission. PIC Chief Muhammad Azam said that citizens are the real custodian of the information held by government departments. He expressed dissatisfaction with the bureaucratic behaviors of government departments and PIOs regarding maximum disclosure of information and public record. The PIC chief encouraged citizens and PIOs to understand their roles and responsibilities under the RTI Law. Muhammad Azam stressed a joint awareness campaign by commissions, civil society, and media to ensure maximum disclosure of information.

A culture of secrecy, lack of political will, lack of awareness among citizens and bureaucratic hurdles are some of the major challenges in the path of the RTI implementation in Balochistan. Info Secretary Imran Khan

Balochistan government Secretary Information Imran Khan said rules under Balochistan RTI Act, 2021 are laid before the Chief Minister and will be finalized soon. The establishment of the Balochistan Information Commission is delayed since the enactment of the RTI Act in February 2021, he added.
The provincial secretary of information claims that a culture of secrecy, lack of political will, lack of awareness among citizens and bureaucratic hurdles are some of the major challenges in the path of the RTI implementation in Balochistan.
CPDI ED Mukhtar Ahmad Ali appreciated that the RTI laws have been enacted at provincial and federal levels however implementation remains a question, especially in Sindh and Balochistan.

Citizens are the real custodian of the information held by government departments: PIC Chief Muhammad Azam

He encouraged citizens to use their fundamental right to know to promote transparency, accountability and inclusiveness of citizens.
The session concluded with participants pledging to continue their joint efforts for the promotion of a transparent and accountable RTI regime in Pakistan with maximum public access to information.