. On Monday, 23rd September, 2024, Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob delivered a comprehensive lecture on the above topic at National Institute of Management, Lahore. He told the participants that RTI is the most effective tool of good governance as it promotes transparency and accountability, improves governance, empowers citizens, raises self- esteem and creates ownership of the State. He spoke about the evolution of RTI, at global, regional and national level. RTI also a part of the UN SDGs and SDG: 16 is central to ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedom. Pakistan got Freedom of Information (FOI) Ordinance on October 26, 2002 which was the first of its kind in South Asia, then Balochistan FOI Act (6 December, 2005), Sindh FOI Act were enacted on 20 December, 2006. These were restrictive laws with no independent Commission. However, new RTI laws are more progressive, like KP’s RTI Ordinance (2013), KPRTI Act (2013), Punjab RTI Act (2013), new Sindh RTI Act, (2016), New Federal RTI Act (2017) and Balochistan RTI Act (2021).

  1. In global ranking pre-2017 Pakistan was 91st /111 with 67 score, now it is 32nd/128 with 115 score. According to PILDAT, as per the RTI SCORE CARD FOR 2021, KP stood first, followed by Punjab, the federation, Sindh and lastly, Balochistan. He also explained various facets of Punjab Transparency and RTI Act, 2013. He highlighted various sections of the law for enhancing understanding of the participants, like Section 4 (proactive disclosure),Section 5&6 (PIC and its functions), Section 7 (designation of PIOs), Section 8 (record, maintenance and indexing), Section 9 (annual report of public bodies), Section 10 (application procedure), Section 12 (internal review), sections 13 (exceptions to the law), Section 15&16 (penalty on PIO and offence), and Section 22 (interpretation in Act) etc. He also shed light on responsibilities of public officials such as PIO, as head of department and as policy-setting senior official. He also emphasized the need to enhance awareness of government functionaries through sessions about RTI laws at training institutions. Just like NIM is undertaking.
  2. He also elaborated challenges for PIO, including extra work, pressure from public and superiors, inadequate training on RTI laws, vulnerability to possible blackmail, lack of computerized records. PIOs should be compensated for extra work, he added.