FAFEN urges uniform standards for parliamentary websites

The Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) has called for the standardisation of information and accessibility features across parliamentary websites, terming it a crucial step to enhance their usability and transparency.

In its report titled work 'Parliamentary Transparency and Openness in Pakistan', the network stressed that the reforms were essential not only to improve public engagement in parliamentary processes but also as a safeguard against the spread of disinformation that undermines democratic institutions.

It pointed out that while parliamentary websites in Pakistan have evolved into vibrant hubs of updated information, often outperforming the websites of many federal ministries and divisions, they still exhibit significant disparities in transparency, accessibility and usability.

"Some platforms provide extensive legislative information, while others fail to meet even minimum standards. These inconsistencies restrict public access to critical information and exacerbate the risks of misinformation and disinformation in an already polarized political environment," the report noted.

Moreover, it noted that a robust digital presence of legislatures aligns with Pakistan's broader digital transition agenda and the government's e-governance goals, as outlined in successive development plans.

FAFEN urged parliamentary leadership across all legislatures to develop and adopt common standards for information availability and presentation on their websites.

"These standards should emphasise enhanced transparency, user-friendly design, and improved citizen engagement, enabling the public to access timely, accurate, and comprehensive legislative information."