Uploading details: P&D, finance depts asked about online info

PIC issues notice on implementation of relevant order

LAHORE: The Punjab Information Commission has asked the chairpersons of planning and development and finance departments about implementation of its earlier order on uploading details of budget and development projects on their websites.

In a two-page order issued on Tuesday, the commission stated sufficient information about development projects, budget allocations, supplementary grants, re-appropriations, release of funds and expenditures was not being proactively disclosed for citizens.

In many instances, the documents on budget or development projects uploaded on the websites are in PDF format, which cannot be easily searched or analysed.

Information about release of funds, supplementary grants, expenditures and re-appropriations was not posted on websites in a timely manner. This state of affairs makes it hard for citizens to search, track, download and analyse budget. They also cannot provide meaningful input to the top management in the public bodies to help them redress inefficiencies or grievances in time.

It was also inconsistent with the government’s policy of transparency in governance, the implementation of Article 19-A of the Constitution and provision of Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act, 2013, the commission said.

For an informed public

The commission directed the department heads that all documents related to annual budget and development projects should be posted on the websites in Excel and Word formats for easy access, download and search functions.

The Punjab Information Technology Board should take the lead in terms of development and managing appropriate online portals to coordinate with the finance and planning and development departments.

The commission asked the respondents to inform it by December 13 about implementation of the earlier order which should have been implemented by July 20.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 23^rd, 2016.