News Pakistan: Lahore: Friday, 01 May 2026.
The Punjab Information
Commission (PIC) has imposed a fine of Rs50,000 on a senior official of the
Lahore Development Authority (LDA) for persistent failure to provide
information sought under the Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act
2013, in a case that underscores systemic gaps in compliance with transparency
laws.
The penalty was awarded to the Public Information Officer (PIO) and Deputy Director Saad Bin Tariq in a complaint filed by citizen Mehr Muhammad Nadeem who had sought inspection of project sites and official records related to multiple development schemes in Lahore.
According to the commission’s detailed order issued on April 6, 2026, the complaint had remained pending since November 11, 2025, and was fixed for hearing on eight occasions. The PIO appeared only once on January 14, 2026 to seek time for compliance but failed to attend subsequent hearings or respond to a show-cause notice issued under Section 15 of the RTI law. Consequently, the commission imposed a fine of Rs50,000 on the PIO, directing that the amount be deducted from his salary. When contacted, Saad Bin Tariq denied knowledge of the development.
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| The Punjab Information Commission building. The News/File |
The penalty was awarded to the Public Information Officer (PIO) and Deputy Director Saad Bin Tariq in a complaint filed by citizen Mehr Muhammad Nadeem who had sought inspection of project sites and official records related to multiple development schemes in Lahore.
According to the commission’s detailed order issued on April 6, 2026, the complaint had remained pending since November 11, 2025, and was fixed for hearing on eight occasions. The PIO appeared only once on January 14, 2026 to seek time for compliance but failed to attend subsequent hearings or respond to a show-cause notice issued under Section 15 of the RTI law. Consequently, the commission imposed a fine of Rs50,000 on the PIO, directing that the amount be deducted from his salary. When contacted, Saad Bin Tariq denied knowledge of the development.
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