Sindh Assembly sanctions Right to Information Act

KARACHI, PAKISTAN: The Sindh Assembly on Monday passed the Sindh Transparency and the Right to Information Bill 2016 after Pakistan Peoples Party MPA Nisar Ahmed Khuhro tabled it before a standing committee for approval.

Khuhro later briefed the media on the objectives of the bill, saying the law had been passed to ensure transparency and access to information for citizens.

He added that this is the cornerstone of the democratic values that it enable citizens to hold elected officials and public institutions accountable.

Khuhro said that the law would improve the governance system in view of Article 19A of the Constitution.

He said that every citizen would now be able to access information in matters of public importance.

According to the new law, the government must designate and notify an officer to act and serve the requester.

This must be done within a 45-day time period starting from the date the request has been lodged.

Furthermore, the government shall establish the Sindh Information Commission along with its relevant offices at a district level to regulate matters pertaining to the issue.

In case the assigned officers refuse to provide the needed information, the government is to penalise them. The penalties can be as high as 10 per cent of their basic salaries.

Source: The Express Tribune