RTI implementation hangs in limbo

Provincial institutions yet to disclose their administrative, functional and financial information on their websites

KARACHI:

Eight years have passed since the Sindh Assembly approved the Sindh Transparency and Right to Information Act 2016, yet most government departments in the province have still not implemented it effectively.

Under Section 6 of the law, all public institutions working under the provincial government are required to provide information about their administrative structure, functions, and financial matters through their official websites. The purpose of the law was to ensure transparency and allow citizens easy access to public information. However, many departments have failed to comply with these requirements, and even the Sindh Assembly itself has not fully implemented the law it passed.

Earlier this year, the Sindh Assembly hosted a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association conference and spent significant public funds, but the expense details have not been posted on its website. The website also lacks information about the number of assembly employees and their annual cost, as well as the millions of rupees paid each year to members as salaries and allowances.

A similar situation exists in many other government departments. According to the law, public bodies must keep their websites regularly updated with details about their responsibilities, rules, budgets, and expenditures. However, a review of several departmental websites shows that updates are either infrequent or completely absent.

Some of the largest departments in the province include the Local Government Department, Health Department, and Education Department. The Local Government Department's website has recently displayed a "maintenance work" message for several days. The Local Government Board's website was last updated on December 13, 2024, while the Health Department's website often fails to open. The Colleges Department website shows its most recent notification dated August 8, 2025, indicating a lack of regular updates.

The law also allows citizens to directly request information from government departments. However, many people who attempted to obtain information in this way faced delays or were not provided with the requested details. As a result, citizens often have to file complaints with the Sindh Information Commission.

According to Saleem Khan, Commissioner of the Sindh Information Commission, more than 1,600 complaints have been filed with the commission against various departments since 2023. Out of these, approximately 1,500 complaints have been resolved. Under the law, if a government department fails to provide information within the specified timeframe, the applicant can file a complaint with the commission. The commission then contacts the concerned department, obtains the information, and provides it to the applicant.

Despite this mechanism, many people become discouraged after failing to receive information and choose not to pursue the matter further. For example, Abdul Ahad Qureshi, a resident of Karachi, claimed that he requested information from the Education Department regarding a government school in his area but did not receive a response. "Due to my busy schedule, I do not have the time to approach the commission or attend hearings," said Qureshi.

Meanwhile, the Sindh Information Commission has written to all provincial government departments, directing them to implement Section 6 of the law. The commission has also issued public advertisements instructing departments to make relevant information available on their websites and warning that action could be taken if they fail to comply.

Local lawyer Dr Murtaza Khuhro has also filed petitions in the Sindh High Court challenging the lack of implementation of the law, and hearings are currently ongoing. "The Sindh government has shown little seriousness in enforcing the legislation. The law required the establishment of Sindh Information Commission offices in every district of the province, but none have been set up so far," said Dr Khohro.

"Since the third week of February, the position of Chief Information Commissioner has remained vacant, further reflecting the government's lack of commitment to implementing the transparency law," he added.