Skip to main content

Civil society demands budgetary, administrative support for PIC

Islamabad :Civil society has demanded the government of Pakistan to provide budgetary and administrative support for Pakistan Information Commission (PIC).On the occasion of international right to information day, a joint press conference was held by Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) and Pakistan Information Commission (PIC). Both parties demanded from the government of Pakistan to provide budgetary and administrative support to PIC. Commission was established in November 2018, 10 months have elapsed but the commission is working on its own without any support from the government.While highlighting the challenges faced by PIC, Chief Information Commission Muhammad Azam remarked that implementation of Right of Access to Information Act, 2017 is a mere deception without strong information commission at federal level. “There are inordinate delays in providing office space, budget and staff to the commission. We are operating from one room in Information Services Academy without any staff and support,” he added.Despite of all challenges, the achievements of PIC are admirable, Information Commissioner Zahid Abdullah said that more than 100 RTI complaints are received by the commission, notices are issued to public bodies and 35 cases are resolved.“Around 25 hearings are conducted for processing of complaints and some are at the last stage of resolution. From the support of civil society organizations we are running our social media pages and developing the website. Our website will be launched in next week, where citizens will be able to lodge complaint online. Rules are finalized where filing of information request is free, we have written letters to all federal government departments; for the designation of PIOs, proactive disclosure of information as section 5 of RAI Act, 2017 and record management as per section 4 of RAI Act, 2017”. All three commissioner collectively raised demand to strengthen commission at earliest.Fawad Malik, Information Commissioner (PIC) also highlighted the importance of public access to information held by government departments. “We will train PIOs on RTI and will change their minds. Cultural of secrecy will change in Pakistan. Otherwise Commission has all the powers to penalize the government officers on violation of RTI law or curbing information.”Executive Director CPDI Amer Ejaz said that RAI Act, 2017 is better law then weak Freedom of Information Ordinance 2002; but it will serve no purpose if the strong RTI law is not operational. “The government must take all efforts to implement RTI law, strengthen commission and raise awareness among public bodies and masses. Strong information commissioners are the need of hour.”

from The News International - Islamabad https://ift.tt/2mKGz3T
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

3 drug pushers, bootlegger held

Islamabad :Islamabad Industrial Area Police have arrested three drug pushers and a bootlegger besides recovery of narcotics and 120 liter liquor from them, a police spokesman said.According to details, a police team of Industrial Area police station arrested three drug pushers namely Kamran, Irfan and Shamoon Masih and recovered 320 gram heroin and 210 gram hashish from them,.Another police team arrested a bootlegger namely Ansar Javed and recovered 120 liter wine, bottles, stickers and brewing equipment from him. Cases have been registered against these nabbed persons and further investigation is underway from them.SP (Industrial Area) Zubair Ahmad Shaikh has said that Industrial Area zone police is doing its job efficiently and crackdown against criminals would be continued.Despite the sit in, he said Islamabad Police has been performing its duty quite efficiently and has successfully managed to maintain the daily life in the Capital.In this regard, Senior Police officers including S...
Post a Comment
Read more

‘Aziz Bhatti Shaheed My Brother, My Hero’

Real heroes are heroes of every one. They are not controversial. Nations love them more than anything. Major Aziz Bhatti Shaheed is among those real-time heroes of 1965 War, who not only stood firm to face the enemy aggression but also repulsed it with his unprecedented courage. He gave his life while defending the frontiers of motherland but never let the enemy succeed in its nefarious designs. The proud nation awarded him with ‘Nishan-i-Haider’, the biggest gallantry award of the country. Now that more than 54 years have passed, since he embraced Shahadat, he continues to live in the hearts of each and every Pakistani. Aziz Bhatti is remembered with love and affection. Nation observes his Yaum-e-Shahadat on 12th of September in a befitting manner.This year was significant in a sense that his younger brother Sardar Ahmed Bhatti (95 years old now) presented this nation a book named ‘Aziz Bhatti Shaheed My Brother My Hero’. This book is classic and unique in a way that it unearths many ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Pragmatic steps taken to implement Axle Load Control regime on NH&MP

Islamabad: Ministry of Communications has taken pragmatic steps to implement the Axle Load Control regime on Motorways & National Highways in the country. Sole objective of this move is to control travelling of overloaded vehicles which lead to fatal accidents besides damaging the national asset of road network of billions of rupees.Prior to implementation of axle load control regime, a technical committee was formed, consisting of officers from Ministry of Communications and National Highway Authority which remained in constant contacts with transport community, Members of the Chambers of Commerce and stakeholders hailing from all the provinces. This technical committee visited their offices and held detailed discussions in series of meetings and took them into confidence to facilitate implementation of Axle Load Control regime. The stakeholders assured of their full cooperation and subsequently, implementation of Axle Load Control was realized which is in progress.It is worth to ...
Post a Comment
Read more