CIC pledges implementation of RTI Act in government Institutions | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

CIC pledges implementation of RTI Act in government Institutions

Pakistan Press Foundation

Chief Information Commissioner Mehboob Qadir Shah has pledged to ensure complete implementation of the Right to Information Act and advised to appoint Chief Public Information Officers in all state-run institutions.

Mehboob Qadir expressed these views while addressing a meeting of chief public information officers of various departments at Civil Secretariat here on Thursday. Information commissioner Saeed Akhtar Ansari, Information Commissioner Hassan Iqbal and Secretary I&C Makhtar Masood were present on the occasion.

“Under Right to Information Act, access to public record is the right of the citizens. All departments should ensure appointment of the chief public information officer. We are struggling to ensure the provision of timely and accurate information to the people. Complete implementation on Right to Information Act will be ensured at any cost,” vowed Mehboob.

The chief information commissioner also highlighted the various aspects of Information Act 2013 and said that PIC has disposed of 3,000 complaints in one year besides arranging approximately 50 training and public information awareness seminars. Under the Right to Information Act 2013, he added, commission, besides sorting out complaints against PIOs of government departments, gave importance to reveal the information through web portal.

Meanwhile, Information Commissioner Saeed Akhtar Ansari said that the Right to Information Act 2013 has eliminated the policy of keeping government record classified. “Now all public records have been made available for public,” he claimed.

Information Commissioner Hassan Iqbal said that 24 out of 25 clauses of Right to Information Act 2013 is in favor of revealing information whereas only one clause permits to conceal the information under specific circumstances.

Secretary I&C Mukhtar Masood said the role of chief information public officer is of great importance for the success of the act. He said the Punjab government appreciates the performance of Punjab Information Commission. He said directions have been issued to all the departments by Chief Secretary Punjab to appoint Chief Information Officers.

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