K-P most transparent as centre lags on RTI

Report says interior ministries most reluctant to share information

Even though the ruling party spearheaded and implemented a right to information act in one province successfully, it has failed to do so in another province where it is ruling and the centre where it occupies the key seats.

This was stated in an annual report on proactive disclosures of information, “Right to information laws and transparency: progressive legislation, reluctant governments”. The report was prepared by the Institute for Research, Advocacy and Development (IRADA) in connection with the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI), observed every year on September 28.

The report conducted a three-dimensional (3-D) assessment for 19 indicators comprising inter-provincial comparison of which territory is the most PDI compliant and transparent about voluntarily sharing information online, intra-province comparison of which common departments in provinces are best at sharing their information online, and inter-indicator comparison - which of the common indicators outlined in the four right to information (RTI) laws are most shared proactively online by the provincial departments.

The results do not include Balochistan because the province does not have second-generation laws like the other governments.

According to the study, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) provincial government achieved the best ranking as the most transparent government with an overall score of 67%.

It was followed by the Punjab government with a collective score of 47%. The Sindh government secured the third position.

The federal government fared the worst in the rankings in terms of transparency and compliance with the mandatory proactive disclosure of information (PDI) clauses of right to information (RTI) laws governing the federation and the four provincial governments.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 28^th, 2020.