ISLAMABAD’:
The Free and Fair Elections Network (FAFEN) has called for the standardization of information and accessibility features across all parliamentary websites, calling it a crucial step to improve their usability and transparency.
In its report titled ‘Parliamentary Transparency and Openness in Pakistan’, the network highlighted that the reforms were essential not only to improve public participation in parliamentary processes but also as a safeguard against the spread of disinformation that undermines democratic institutions.
He noted that while parliamentary websites in Pakistan have become vibrant centers of up-to-date information, often surpassing the websites of many federal ministries and divisions, they still exhibit significant disparities in transparency, accessibility and usability.
“Some platforms provide extensive legislative information, while others fail to meet even minimum standards. These inconsistencies restrict public access to critical information and exacerbate the risks of misinformation in an already polarized political environment,” the report notes.
He further noted that a strong digital presence of legislatures aligns with Pakistan’s broader digital transition agenda and the government’s e-governance objectives, as outlined in successive development plans.
FAFEN urged parliamentary leaders of all legislatures to develop and adopt common standards for the availability and presentation of information on their websites.
“These standards should emphasize greater transparency, user-friendly design, and improved citizen participation, allowing the public to access timely, accurate, and complete legislative information.”
