RTI compliance weak across Pakistan, report finds

Islamabad: Implementation of right to information laws remains weak across federal and provincial government departments, with compliance for proactive disclosure ranging from 28 percent in Balochistan to 59 percent in Punjab, according to an assessment by Transparency International Pakistan.

Proactive disclosure requires government departments to publish certain categories of information on their own initiative, without a citizen having to file a request.

The report, issued ahead of Universal Access to Information Day on September 28, examined the websites of 98 key ministries and departments to check compliance with the federal Right of Access to Information Act, 2017 and corresponding provincial laws.

Punjab recorded the highest overall compliance at 59 percent across 18 departments. The federal government followed with 47 percent across 14 ministries, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 41 percent across 22 departments, and Sindh with 31 percent across 25 departments. Balochistan came last with 28 percent across 19 departments.

The assessment identified budget and expenditure information as one of the weakest areas across all jurisdictions, raising concerns about how much basic financial information is available on government websites.

Availability of information about Public Information Officers, who serve as the institutional channel for citizens seeking information, was also poor. Publication of PIO contact details scored 12 percent in Balochistan, 14 percent in Sindh, 36 percent at the federal level and 45 percent in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Punjab performed better, recording 72 percent.

The report recommends that Information Commissions introduce standardised formats for proactive disclosure. It also calls on government departments to strengthen training for Public Information Officers, improve publication of budget and expenditure details, make PIO contact details mandatory, disclose decision-making processes and public consultation opportunities, and set minimum website standards including a dedicated RTI section on every government department's website.