Lecture Discussion on Interface with Citizens: Understanding of Right to Information Laws and Responsibilities of Public Officials was held on 18^th July, 2023 at NIM, Lahore with an aim to enlighten the participants of 37^th MCMC or an important but not so-well-known Law, its salient features, significance and applicability for public officials. The discussion was conducted by Mr. Ahmad Bilal Mehboob, the President and founder of Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency.

The guest speaker narrated that RTI evolved over a period starting with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948. In 1966, USA became the first non-European country to implement Freedom of Information. The principles of RTI were also enshrined in the charter of Commonwealth and SAARC. In 2015, RTI became part of Sustainable Development Goals. Now 136 countries have adopted RTI laws from mere 19 countries in the year 1995. In Pakistan, Freedom of Information Ordinance was promulgated in 2002. Baluchistan and Sindh passed Freedom of Information Acts in 2005 and 2006, respectively. However, these were restrictive laws. and there was no provision of independent Information Commission. After a period of inactivity, new wave of better legislation started when KPI and Punjab enacted RTI Acts in the year 2013. Sindh and Baluchistan also improved their RTI laws in the years 2017, and 2021, respectively. These RTI laws are more progressive and effective.

The speaker also discussed that in the global ranking of RTI index, Pakistan was ranked 32^nd out of 136 countries whereas India ranked 8^th. He emphasized the fact that Right to Information (RTI) has emerged as a great tool for good governance that could help in ensuring efficiency and accountability in the government functioning.