Freedom of information laws | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Freedom of information laws

ISLAMABAD – The legislation on freedom of information would help promote the good governance in the country, said Nisar A. Memon Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting.

Speaking at a seminar on freedom of information, organized by Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT), Nisar Memon said, it is a happy augury that this subject (legislation on freedom of information), for the first time in the 56 year history of the country, was given due importance.

He said the laws have been enacted and now these could be improved and modified in accordance with the need and demand of the stake holders.

He said the freedom of expression and simultaneously the access to the information have been rightly guarded through proper legislation. And if there were some reservations of the stake holders, these could be reconsidered for bringing improvements or modifications accordingly. However, he said, this was a first step towards this direction and improvements could be incorporated on the basis of as and when required by adopting certain procedures. Those who also expressed their views on the subject included, MNA Sheri Rehman, Senator Rukhsana Zubairi, Senator M. Saeed Siddiqui, Senator Kausar Firdous, Mujeeb-ur-Reh Shami and M. Ziauddin. They appreciated the spirit and the enactment of these laws which not only helped to repeal the black laws but also protected the freedom of expression and information.
Source: The Nation
Date:6/29/2004