LAHORE: Governor Punjab Muhammad Balighur Rehman has asked the Punjab government to speed up access to basic information under the right to information (RTI) law through websites of all provincial departments.
Addressing a ceremony in connection with the ‘Right to Information Day’ at the Governor’s House here on Monday, he said it is a good omen that Pakistan is among the 125 countries in the world where RTI has been implemented as a law.
The event was organised by Punjab Information Commission in collaboration with the Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI). Chief Information Commissioner Mehboob Qadir Shah, senior judges, lawyers, vice chancellors and principals of various colleges were present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Governor Punjab Muhammad Balighur Rehman said the main purpose of this event is to highlight the importance of Right to Information in the development of the country, adding that in the countries where the RTI law is effectively implemented, level of corruption is low.
He said RTI has a key role in eradicating corruption in government institutions, making the work of public officials effective and in good governance, adding the RTI Act ensures transparency in the financial and administrative affairs of government institutions.
The Governor Punjab further said that the Punjab Information Commission has shown remarkable performance during the last five years. He said that Punjab Information Commission not only disposed of more than 20,000 Right to Information appeals, but also held numerous seminars throughout Punjab regarding the training of public information officers and awareness of RTI to the public.
Chief Information Commissioner Mehboob Qadir Shah said that RTI is the key to establishing a welfare state.
The Governor Punjab also distributed RTI awards to 35 best RTI activists who rendered outstanding services for RTI.