Federal ministries fail to meet disclosure law

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ISLAMABAD':

A majority of federal ministries and their divisions are failing to meet the legal requirements for proactive disclosure of public information on their websites as stipulated under the Right of Access to Information Act (RTI), 2017.

The gap, according to the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN), enables the proliferation of misinformation and disinformation.

FAFEN has warned that the absence of timely and authentic information about public bodies, their functions, and decisions can inadvertently encourage misinformation and disinformation, particularly on social media, which may undermine the credibility of government institutions.

Instead of relying solely on legislative and regulatory measures to address misinformation and disinformation, which carry the potential for misuse, FAFEN stressed the need for proactive disclosure of information through optimal use of information technology.

"Such measures would not only counter misinformation and disinformation effectively but also enhance government transparency and public confidence," the report said.

According to FAFEN's assessment of the websites of 40 divisions operating under 33 federal ministries, none of the assessed entities fully complied with the RTI Act, which mandates government bodies to proactively disclose public information online, in accordance with the principles of Article 19-A of the Constitution.

Moreover, over one-third of the ministries did not respond to information requests as required by the law.

Conducted between April and June 2024, the assessment was made under criteria established by Section 5 of the RTI Act, 2017, which includes information about an overview of public bodies, reports and investigations, public services and conditions, personnel information, legal framework and policies, decision-making and financial information and access to information.

A division-wise analysis of website disclosures revealed significant variations in compliance with the RTI law.

The Cabinet Division and the Inter-Provincial Coordination Division ranked the highest, achieving a compliance rate of 42% with Section 5 of the RTI Act.

Fifteen divisions fell within the compliance range of 31% to 40%. Among these, six divisions - Establishment, Petroleum, National Heritage and Culture, Revenue, Interior and Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives - achieved 38% compliance each.

Another seven divisions - Commerce, Communications, Federal Education and Professional Training, Foreign Affairs, Privatisation, Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, and Water Resources - reported 35% compliance each.

The Climate Change and Information Technology and Telecommunication Divisions had the lowest compliance in this group at 31%.

Thirteen divisions fell into the 21% to 30% compliance category. Within this range, Aviation, Defence, Defence Production, Economic Affairs, Power, Human Rights, Law and Justice, Parliamentary Affairs, Railways, and Science and Technology divisions each achieved 27% compliance. Meanwhile, the Finance, Industries and Production, and National Food Security and Research divisions had a compliance rate of 23%.

Nine divisions were categorised as having compliance rates between 11% and 20%.