Right to information: Transparency website launched

SARGODHA: The district government launched a website under the Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act 2013 on Wednesday. Sargodha DCO Saqib Manan said the purpose of the website was to provide people access information about government projects. He was addressing a meeting with Punjab Information Commissioner Mukhtar Ahmad Ali and representatives of the CTDI and SP Attaur Rehman. Information Commissioner Mukhtar Ahmad Ali said the government was bound to provide information to citizens who asked for it. He said people could request information about government departments and projects. He said the information would be delivered within 14 days. He said every government department would set up a Public Information Office and appoint a public information officer (PIO). In case of delay in provision of information, the PIO’s two-day salary would be deducted.  He said the information about defence, law and order and personal lives of officials would not be made public.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 12^th, 2014.