The Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) has called on the government to undertake comprehensive legal reforms to strengthen the implementation of the Right of Access to Information Act, 2017.
In a policy brief titled 'Strengthening the Right to Information (RTI) in Pakistan', released on Sunday, FAFEN highlighted that while Pakistan's RTI framework is among the most progressive, its effectiveness has been hampered by institutional inertia, ambiguous legal provisions and weak enforcement mechanisms.
The shortcomings have prevented the law from achieving its intended goal of ensuring government transparency.
The absence of timely information about the actions, decisions and spending by public bodies breeds destabilising misinformation and disinformation.
"FAFEN strongly believes that strengthening the RTI legal framework will serve as a bulwark in the government's efforts to counter disinformation, which is deepening political polarisation in the country," FAFEN said.
As part of its ongoing "countering disinformation through information" campaign, FAFEN has already conducted an assessment of the websites of federal ministries and divisions, and found a low level of compliance with the provisions of the RTI Act, 2017.
Similar assessments are ongoing for provincial departments.
FAFEN said that greater independence and powers for the Pakistan Information Commission (PIC) will enable it to effectively enforce the provisions of the law on public bodies, which is critical to enhance government transparency and counter disinformation.
In its policy brief, FAFEN urged the parliament to further strengthen the RTI legal framework by eliminating ambiguities and empowering the PIC to lead enforcement efforts rather than merely serving as an appellate forum.
Proposed amendments include specifying clear deadlines for proactive disclosures and the digitisation of records, broadening the scope of public records, reforming the process for the appointment and removal of information commissioners, and mandating public bodies to submit compliance reports on the Act's requirements to the PIC.
FAFEN recommends a more consultative approach to the appointment and removal of information commissioners through a bipartisan parliamentary committee with equal representation from the treasury and opposition.
Transferring these responsibilities away from executive control and ensuring the commission's financial independence through amendments to Section 21 would enable it to function as a more effective oversight body.
FAFEN's policy brief also stressed the need for public bodies to move beyond merely posting raw data online.
Instead, it recommended the PIC to establish standardised, user-friendly record-keeping formats and practices, including searchable databases, clear summaries, and intuitive indexes to enhance accessibility.
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