PIC Directs NEPRA to Provide Information Under RTI law

News Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Information Commission (PIC) on Monday issued an order to Ministry of Energy (Power Division) Deputy Secretary (Coord)) and Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) Managing Director to respond to the information request of an appellant and notices of the PIC.

The PIC directed them to provide complete information mentioned in para 2 of this order to the appellant, at the earliest but not later than 7 working days of the receipt of this order.

Earlier on September 9, 2022, the Commission received an appeal via email from Nadeem Umer, stating that he submitted an information request on August 22, 2022 under the Right of Access to Information Act 2017 to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) but the respondent public body has not responded as required under section 13 of the Act.

The PIC adjourned the hearing on October 08 in order to provide an opportunity to file proper replies to the respondent. The respondent was granted time to submit the reply to the Commission before November 1. However, CPPA AML Zunair attended the hearing held on November 1 but failed to provide the requested information.

The commission had to decide whether the remaining information requested by the citizens falls within the ambit of the public record and whether the public body has responded or not to the information request and notices of the commission within the time limit mentioned in the Act.