A declaration issued Sept. 28 from an international conference on right to information held in Islamabad, Pakistan, calls for the federal and provincial governments to enact right to information laws.
The “Islamabad Declaration” outlines the basics of what should be in good RTI statutes, according to an article by Myra Imran in The News.
The two-day conference was organized by Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) and was attended by academicians, policy experts, Government officials, journalists and CSOs from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Canada and Pakistan, according to CDPI.
The group reported:
Former Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ms. Sherry Rehman delivered a key note speech, reiterating the need for a strong RTI legislation to guarantee transparency and accountability in governmental mechanisms, while further stressing the urgent need for enactment of a provincial RTI legislation in Punjab. She stressed that current information regime is flawed and is designed to hinder information flow rather than allowing timely access. She expressed her hope in the present government’s political will to bring about desired change in time to come.
Separately, the Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan on Sept. 28, International Right to Know Day, issued a statement supporting RTI.
Among other points made by the commission, it stated:
Therefore, CRCP impresses upon the Federal and Provincial Governments of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to enact their RTI laws taking into account best practices in the world and aspiration of stakeholders. Existing RTI laws in the provinces of Balochistan and Sind are also very weak and need to be revised.
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