KARACHI:Chief Information Commissioner, Pakistan Information Commission (PIC), Muhammad Azam on Thursday termed awareness among public regarding Right of Access to Information (RTI) as critical to enable them exercise RTI that can help eliminate corruption and bring transparency, especially in public sector development projects.
Muhammad Azam, said this in a session along with Information Commissioner PIC Fawad Malik with the members Governing Body Karachi Press Club (KPC) and other notables, at the KPC here.
Muhmmad Azam, who is also former federal secretary Information and Broadcasting said that the RTI is a fundamental right in Pakistan that is guaranteed under the Article 19-A of the Constitution. Every citizen can exercise his right to access to information to get his desired information from the organization that receives public funds from the tax money, he said.
He observed that the RTI can appear very vital for preventing corruption and ensure transparency, particularly in the projects and programs executed under the Public Sector Development Projects (PSDP), schemes.
He said that creation of awareness among the masses regarding fruitful and positive use of the RTI is critical to enable and guide them about exercising this important right. Media can play significant role in this regard, he added.
Earlier, Information Commissioner Fawad Malik briefed the participants about operations and procedures of the Pakistan Information Commission.
The participants were briefed regarding simple process to submit the RTI request that is filling the prescribed form or submit on a plain paper to the designated Public Information Officer (PIO) through registered post and keep its copy in the record for future reference. The desired information should be provided within 10 working days and in case the authority finds it difficult to collect the desired information, it may take extra 10 days.
The applicant can also lodge appeal with the PIC, if the RTI request is delayed or denied or the applicant is not satisfied with the response.
The appeal may be send through the website www.appeals.rti.gov.pk or at its email [email protected]. The PIC will decide the appeal within 60 days.
Speaking on the occasion, Fawad Malik said that the RTI grants access to the citizens to the authentic official facts and details directly from the concerned departments, that can help the public to held the organizations accountable.
Secretary KPC Rizwan Bhatti, Joint Secretary, Saqib Saghir, members of the KPC’s Governing Body and other notables were also present.
The Chief Information Commissioner, Pakistan Information Commission (PIC), Muhammad Azam and Information Commissioner Fawad Malik were also presented shield from the KPC.