Minute Mirror: Pakistan: Thursday,
16 January 2025.
The Pakistan Information
Commission (PIC) has directed all federal ministries to enforce Section 5 of
the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2017, emphasizing the mandatory proactive
disclosure of public information on their official websites. This initiative
aims to enhance transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in
governance.
In an official communication to the Secretaries of federal ministries, the Commission underlined the pivotal role of transparency in governance. It called for compliance with the Act’s provisions to ensure public access to information without requiring formal requests. Such openness, the Commission argued, is vital for fostering public trust and encouraging meaningful civic engagement in decision-making processes.
Section 5 of the RTI Act obligates public bodies to publish comprehensive details about their organization and activities, including their structure, functions, decision-making processes, rules, financial records, and audit reports. It also mandates the disclosure of information on licensing criteria, public service protocols, and contracts or concessions granted by the public body. Ministries were reminded that compliance with these provisions was required within six months of the Act’s commencement and urged to align their operations accordingly.
Highlighting the importance of effective implementation, the PIC instructed ministries to establish monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to assess the impact and efficacy of their disclosures. The proactive release of information, the Commission stressed, is key to empowering citizens, promoting accountability, and improving the overall efficiency of public bodies.
Ministries have been given until February 15, 2025, to submit compliance reports detailing their progress in implementing Section 5. The Commission warned that failure to adhere to the RTI Act would result in enforcement actions as stipulated under the law.
The PIC expressed confidence in the ministries’ ability to meet these requirements and assured its full support in promoting transparent and inclusive governance. By making public information accessible, the initiative seeks to not only uphold citizens’ rights but also contribute to a more accountable and efficient public sector.
This directive underscores Pakistan’s commitment to institutionalizing transparency and engaging the public in governance processes, paving the way for strengthened democratic principles and informed civic participation.
In an official communication to the Secretaries of federal ministries, the Commission underlined the pivotal role of transparency in governance. It called for compliance with the Act’s provisions to ensure public access to information without requiring formal requests. Such openness, the Commission argued, is vital for fostering public trust and encouraging meaningful civic engagement in decision-making processes.
Section 5 of the RTI Act obligates public bodies to publish comprehensive details about their organization and activities, including their structure, functions, decision-making processes, rules, financial records, and audit reports. It also mandates the disclosure of information on licensing criteria, public service protocols, and contracts or concessions granted by the public body. Ministries were reminded that compliance with these provisions was required within six months of the Act’s commencement and urged to align their operations accordingly.
Highlighting the importance of effective implementation, the PIC instructed ministries to establish monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to assess the impact and efficacy of their disclosures. The proactive release of information, the Commission stressed, is key to empowering citizens, promoting accountability, and improving the overall efficiency of public bodies.
Ministries have been given until February 15, 2025, to submit compliance reports detailing their progress in implementing Section 5. The Commission warned that failure to adhere to the RTI Act would result in enforcement actions as stipulated under the law.
The PIC expressed confidence in the ministries’ ability to meet these requirements and assured its full support in promoting transparent and inclusive governance. By making public information accessible, the initiative seeks to not only uphold citizens’ rights but also contribute to a more accountable and efficient public sector.
This directive underscores Pakistan’s commitment to institutionalizing transparency and engaging the public in governance processes, paving the way for strengthened democratic principles and informed civic participation.
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