• March 4, 2025
• Right to Information
• PPF Research Team

In a day-long capacity building workshop organized by the Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), journalists and lawyers from across Sindh, representing various media outlets, developed a detailed understanding and hands-on training on how the Right to Information (RTI) laws can be used for reporting.

 RTI activist Dr. Raza Ali Gardezi highlighted journalists’ constitutional right to access public information under Article 19-A urging journalists to exercise their right to information actively. He provided an overview of the Sindh Transparency and Right to Information Act 2016 and the Federal Right of Access to Information Act 2017, detailing legal procedures for requesting government information.

Directorate General Public Relations (DGPR), Press Information Department, Erum Tanveer emphasized the importance of journalists knowing about RTI laws so that their stories are fact-based. Additionally, she advocated for similar training for her department as well.

Highlighting the impact of RTI implementation in Sindh, Amjad Islam, Legal Consultant at the Sindh Information Commission, shared that over 400 RTI applications were resolved in 2024.  In addition, he said that the information commission had written letters to different Sindh government departments to upload their information online and appoint focal persons.

During the interactive session, participants discussed real-world applications of RTI laws. Trainer Dr Gardezi provided practical tips on structuring effective RTI requests to improve chances of receiving complete and accurate information.

The workshop concluded with the presentation of PPF’s annual report on press freedom, detailing threats to journalists in Sindh and across Pakistan as well as legal protections under the Sindh Protection of Journalists and Other Media Practitioners Act, 2021 and the role of the Sindh Commission for the Protection of Journalists and Other Media Practitioners.

The training underscored RTI as a critical tool for investigative journalism, empowering journalists to demand transparency, uncover corruption, and safeguard press freedom in Pakistan.