Balochistan sees transparency gains

FAFEN report reveals that public bodies are proactively disclosing 48% information required under law

ISLAMABAD:

Public bodies in Balochistan proactively disclose an average of 48 percent of the information required under the Balochistan Right to Information (BRTI) Act, 2021, reveals the latest transparency assessment report released by the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

The assessment is part of FAFEN's Countering Disinformation through Information Campaign, which underscores the importance of proactive disclosures by the public authorities in strengthening institutional transparency and countering mis- and disinformation.

The assessment reviewed 66 public bodies in the province, including 39 secretariat departments, 12 attached departments, and 15 autonomous bodies, against the proactive disclosure requirements prescribed under Section 5 of the BRTI Act.

The law mandates proactive disclosure of nine categories of information about a public body. It also emphasizes the publication of updated information in accessible formats, including over the internet.

Overall, the autonomous bodies performed relatively better, disclosing, on average, 59 percent of the required information, followed by attached departments at 46 percent, while secretariat departments trailed at 44 percent.

Among the secretariat departments, the Agriculture and Cooperatives, Information, Planning and Development, and Urban Planning and Development Departments emerged as most transparent, with each disclosing 70 percent of the required information.

Among attached departments, the Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) led with 60 percent compliance.

Among autonomous bodies, the Balochistan Education and Endowment Fund and the University of Turbat disclosed 80 percent of the required information.

Notwithstanding these high-performing public bodies, the assessment found widespread gaps in compliance.

A large number of public bodies disclosed only 40–50 percent of the required information, while several public bodies fell even further behind, disclosing as little as 10–30 percent of the information.

Basic organizational information, such as functions, duties, and institutional structure, was the most widely available information across nine categories, disclosed by 98 percent of public bodies.

Legal frameworks governing the operations of public bodies were available on 80 percent of assessed websites, while 73 percent disclosed information on public services and service delivery conditions.

Around 21 percent of public bodies published some budget-related information, including proposed or actual expenditures.

Information on subsidy or benefit programmes was disclosed by 15 percent of public bodies, while two percent of public bodies provided some details on recipients of concessions, permits, licenses, or authorizations.