Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) has called for reforms to address gaps in the implementation of the Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act (PTRIA) 2013.
In a policy brief titled "Strengthening the RTI Framework in Punjab", FAFEN urges close collaboration among the Punjab Assembly, Punjab Information Commission and civil society to transform the PTRIA's promise into practice.
The policy brief is part of FAFEN's "Countering Disinformation through Information" campaign.
As Pakistan grapples with growing disinformation that often fuels political polarisation, strengthening RTI frameworks is vital to restoring public trust and ensuring equitable access to information.
Hailed as a progressive law, the PTRIA faces implementation challenges rooted in the legal ambiguities and institutional weakness.
FAFEN's assessments of its implementation reveals that around 80 per cent of government departments were unclear about their obligation to publish annual compliance reports under PTRIA while a majority of the public bodies failed to respond FAFEN's information requests within legally-stipulated response time.
The policy brief highlights critical legal and operational challenges, including discretionary controls of the provincial government over the appointment and removal of information commissioners and the budgetary allocation for the PIC.
Moreover, vague or missing definition of key terms like "working days" and "public body," risk the arbitrary interpretation that may undermine the spirit of the law.
Additionally, the absence of standardised record-keeping formats, underdeveloped digital complaint handling mechanisms, and inadequate privacy protections for applicants further weaken the law's enforcement.
To address these issues, FAFEN proposes amendments to the PTRIA, including clearer definitions to cover private entities receiving public funds and government contracts, safeguards for whistleblowers, and provisions for anonymous RTI applications.
The brief urges the Punjab Assembly to establish a bipartisan committee for appointing information commissioners and create an independent fund to ensure the commission's financial autonomy.
It also recommends empowering the commission to issue binding directives on record management, conduct inspections, and adopt a five-year strategic plan to institutionalise transparency.
Emphasising the role of technology, FAFEN also recommends a functional online complaint system and standardised digital disclosures to improve accessibility.
Sustained public awareness campaigns via media and community engagement are proposed to educate citizens and officials about RTI rights and obligations.
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