The importance of transparency and accountability in governance can be guaged by the fact that the world observes the International Day for Universal Access to Information every year to highlight the criticality of the matter. In Pakistan, the Right to Information (RTI) Act, enacted in 2017, was a significant step forward, aimed at empowering citizens by providing them access to information held by government departments and agencies. However, its implementation has faced serious obstacles that have undermined its intended purpose.
Historically, access to information has been considered essential for democracy. In many democratic countries, people have successfully used RTI laws to gain insights into government actions, policies and decisions. In Pakistan, one of the key issues is that many people are still unaware of their rights under this law, or always find it difficult to navigate the bureaucratic processes involved in accessing information.
Moreover, there have been numerous instances where the government has failed to provide access to crucial information that is of public interest. In such cases, the lack of transparency not only erodes public trust, but also raises concerns about government actions.
Similarly, the government agencies often remain silent or unresponsive about the information regarding missing persons, violating the rights of these families to seek justice and accountability. Besides, people have also faced challenges in accessing relevant information related to the environmental impact assessment of various projects, and about critical agreements, like those with independent power producers (IPPs). This reflects a failure with respect to upholding the RTI Act, and demonstrates a broader disregard for human rights.
As things stand, it is crucial for Pakistan to fully embrace and enforce the RTI Act. This requires a commitment from the government, and active participation of civil society organisations and individuals.
Public awareness campaigns should be launched to educate people about their rights under the RTI Act, and the procedure to access information. Additionally, government agencies must be held accountable when they fail to fulfil their responsibility to provide timely and accurate information to the public.
People deserve the right to know about government actions, especially in matters that impact their lives directly.
By ensuring access to information, we can work towards a more transparent and accountable government in Pakistan, ultimately benefiting the nation at large.
WASIF KHALIQ DAD
RAWALPINDI
