KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly on Monday unanimously approved the Sindh Transparency and Right to Information Bill 2016.
Following the development, the Sindh Information Commission will be formed to oversee implementation of the law, which will allow citizens access to important information.
The commission will comprise three members: the chief information commissioner, and two other members. The head of the commission will be a grade-20 officer.
Of the two members, one shall be a lawyer with some prior experience in the higher courts, while the other member shall be a representative of the civil society.
The law, presented by PPP’s Nisar Khuhro, states that any complaints against the commission’s head or the commission itself will be addressed by an investigation committee formed by the speaker of the Sindh Assembly.
According to the bill, any citizen can submit a written request and seek information from government or institutions.
After a request has been received, the relevant institutions will have to submit information within a period of 15 days to one month.
The bill also states that the commission reserves the right to take action against any officer who fails to deliver the information sought.
Failure to deliver the required information can result in a penalty of Rs1 million.
