ISLAMABAD’:
Most federal ministries and their divisions do not comply with the legal requirements for proactive disclosure of public information on their websites as stipulated in the Right of Access to Information (RTI) Act, 2017.
The gap, according to the Free and Fair Elections Network (FAFEN), allows the proliferation of misinformation and disinformation.
FAFEN has warned that the absence of timely and authentic information about public bodies, their functions and decisions can inadvertently encourage misinformation, particularly on social media, which can undermine the credibility of government institutions.
Rather than relying solely on legislative and regulatory measures to address misinformation and disinformation, which carry the potential for misuse, FAFEN highlighted the need for proactive information dissemination through the optimal use of information technology.
“Such measures would not only effectively counter misinformation and disinformation, but would also improve government transparency and public trust,” the report says.
According to FAFEN’s assessment of the websites of 40 divisions operating under 33 federal ministries, none of the entities assessed were fully compliant with the RTI Act, which mandates government bodies to proactively disclose public information online, in accordance with the principles of Article 19-A of the Constitution.
Additionally, more than a third of ministries did not respond to requests for information as required by law.
Conducted between April and June 2024, the assessment was conducted based on the criteria laid down by Section 5 of the RTI Act, 2017, which includes information on an overview of public bodies, reports and investigations, public services and conditions, information on the personnel, legal framework and policies. , decision making and financial information and access to information.
A divisional analysis of website disclosures revealed significant variations in RTI compliance.
The Cabinet Division and the Inter-Provincial Coordination Division scored the highest, achieving a compliance rate of 42% with Section 5 of the RTI Act.
Fifteen divisions were within the 31% to 40% compliance range. Among them, six divisions (Establishment, Petroleum, Heritage and National Culture, Revenue, Interior and Planning, Development and Special Initiatives) achieved 38% compliance each.
Seven other divisions (Commerce, Communications, Federal Education and Vocational Training, Foreign Affairs, Privatization, Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, and Water Resources) each reported 35% compliance.
The Climate Change and Information Technology and Telecommunications Divisions had the lowest compliance of this group at 31%.
Thirteen divisions fell into the 21% to 30% compliance category. Within this range, the divisions of Aviation, Defence, Defense Production, Economic Affairs, Energy, Human Rights, Law and Justice, Parliamentary Affairs, Railways and Science and Technology each achieved 27% compliance. Meanwhile, the Finance, Industries and Production, and National Food Security and Research divisions had a compliance rate of 23%.
Nine divisions were categorized as having compliance rates between 11% and 20%.
