Call for taking measures for ensuring public access to information under RTI

Coalition on Right to Information (CRTI) and its partners Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) and Center of Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) raised the voice to urge the government to ensure implementation of Sindh Transparency and Right to Information Act, 2016 on February 6, 2019 at Karachi Press Club.

Coalition on right to information (CRTI) is a coalition of 55 organizations working for the protection of right to information in Pakistan.

RTI is meant to promote transparency, accountability and good governance in government departments and to ensure informed public participation in decision-making process

The conference aims that right to information is a fundamental right, guaranteed under article 19-A. There is a need of immediate steps for the implementation of Sindh RTI law. Certified and authentic information is right and need of every citizen of Pakistan. The current government shall live up to its claims and ensure public access to information for the promotion of citizen’s participation in government affairs.

In a joint statement issued to the press by CRTI partners, CPDI Program Coordinator Moonus Kayinat and PPF Secretary General Owais Ali demanded the designation of public information officers in all public bodies of Sindh and strengthening of Sindh information commission through financial and administrative empowerment. Sindh Information Commission was notified back in May 2018, but it is not financially and administratively empowered till date. With the week information commission and no awareness about people’s right to know, the whole process of public access to information in halted Sindh.

Mr. Owais Ali Secretary General of PPF added there should be an awareness program for journalist to use RTI in proper manner as in digital age implementation of RTI is a very important tool for journalists, From a state where getting even public information was hard to get, we now have an information overload, with huge volumes of information available a click away. RTI is a good way acquire authentic information for news stories.

This conference also stated that KP and Punjab governments implementing good governing RTI laws likewise Sindh government should also strengthen its RTI law and make it affective for maximum proactive disclosure.