Access to information on governmental issues includes in basic rights of citizens: Raja Jahangir

Lahore,(Parliament Times): Secretary Information & Culture Punjab Raja Jahangir Anwar has said access to information about matters of public importance is the fundamental right of the citizens. The Punjab government, by enforcement of The Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act 2013, has given the citizens their basic right. In order to make this legislation more effective, a consultation process with all the stakeholders was also underway.
He was addressing a seminar at Al-Hamrah on Wednesday regarding awareness to public information officers about The Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act 2013.
Secretary Information Raja Jahangir Anwar further said the access to information act is being reconsidered for its effective enforcement. The secretary stressed the need to computerize the system of the Punjab Information Commission; and for this purpose, PITB’s technical collaboration could be obtained. Raja Jahangir Anwar said, besides digitization Punjab Information Commission, there is a dire need to establish a data bank of applications in order to discourage habitual litigants. He appreciated the efforts made by CIO Mehboob Qadir Shah for the effective implementation of the law.
Former law secretary Sh Ahmed Farooq termed the Punjab Information Act a positive step. He, however, suggested balanced amendments in the law to commensurate it with the ground realities for positive outcomes. Chief Information Commissioner Mehboob Qadir Shah highlighted the salient features of the law.