A top Pakistani official said Jan. 22 that that a draft right to information bill would be finalized by mid-February, according to a press account.

Speaking at a meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Qamar Zaman Kaira, said consultations with stakeholders are nearly concluded.

He said it will take about three weeks to finalize the draft of the bill, according to the article by the Associated Press of Pakistan.

He proposed that instead of discussing a bill proposed by Dr. Donya Aziz, the committee should wait until the government’s bill is tabled in the committee. His suggestion was was accepted by the committee.

 Separately, the Center for Peace and Development Initiatives has urged the state of Punjab to pursue FOI legisaltion.