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Govt. to promulgate FOI for transparent governance in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD : The government should promulgate rules of business to make Freedom of Information Ordinance (FOI)-2002 operational for transparent governance in Pakistan, demanded a consultation of stakeholders on FOI in Islamabad.

The consultation was arranged by Center for Civic Education-Pakistan and Consumers Rights Commission of Pakistan in collaboration with National Democratic Institute of International Affairs (NDI). Senator Farhatullah Babar, Members of National Assembly, Dr. Attur Rehman (MMA), Gule Farkhanda (GNA), Mary Cummins, country representative of NDI, Mukhtar Ahmad Ali, Zafarullah Khan, C. R. Shamsi, secretary general, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalist made presentations.

During the consultation the model rules of business drafted by CRCP and CCE were discussed. These rules will be presented to government for consideration. The speakers exhorted that the FOI is about a new mindset in the governance and for that the government needs to embark on extensive training of its officers.

“The attitudes and psyche developed under the shadows of Official Secret Act-1923 would have to go to usher upon a new era of information disclosure,” said speakers.

The implementation of FOI is a process, said Mary Cummins and this process can’t be completed within days. The parliamentarians at the consultation said, FOI is a first good step, its deficits could be discussed in the legislature to improve it.

Exclusions on the name of national security were also discussed. “Such exclusions could be tolerated only up to operational defense matters but not about the personal conduct of various officers”, said the MMA representative.

One official present at the consultation informed that the government will be publishing every new law in the national and regional languages. “High courts have also started publishing their annual reports regarding dispensation of justice,” he added.

The representative of journalists union said the question of FOI was tied-up with the overall democratic culture in the country. Later the participants gave their suggestions and recommendations to realize the implementation of FOI. These recommendations and the draft rules of business will be shared with the government.—

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	Govt. to promulgate FOI for transparent governance in Pakistan ISLAMABAD : The government should promulgate rules of business to make Freedom of Information Ordinance (FOI)-2002 operational for transparent governance in Pakistan, demanded a consultation of stakeholders on FOI in Islamabad. The consultation was arranged by Center for Civic Education-Pakistan and Consumers Rights Commission of Pakistan in collaboration with National Democratic Institute of International Affairs (NDI). Senator Farhatullah Babar, Members of National Assembly, Dr. Attur Rehman (MMA), Gule Farkhanda (GNA), Mary Cummins, country representative of NDI, Mukhtar Ahmad Ali, Zafarullah Khan, C. R. Shamsi, secretary general, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalist made presentations. During the consultation the model rules of business drafted by CRCP and CCE were discussed. These rules will be presented to government for consideration. The speakers exhorted that the FOI is about a new mindset in the governance and for that the government needs to embark on extensive training of its officers. “The attitudes and psyche developed under the shadows of Official Secret Act-1923 would have to go to usher upon a new era of information disclosure,” said speakers. The implementation of FOI is a process, said Mary Cummins and this process can’t be completed within days. The parliamentarians at the consultation said, FOI is a first good step, its deficits could be discussed in the legislature to improve it. Exclusions on the name of national security were also discussed. “Such exclusions could be tolerated only up to operational defense matters but not about the personal conduct of various officers”, said the MMA representative. One official present at the consultation informed that the government will be publishing every new law in the national and regional languages. “High courts have also started publishing their annual reports regarding dispensation of justice,” he added. The representative of journalists union said the question of FOI was tied-up with the overall democratic culture in the country. Later the participants gave their suggestions and recommendations to realize the implementation of FOI. These recommendations and the draft rules of business will be shared with the government.—
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