Establishment of District RTI Centers will help to protect the basic right of the common man, RTI Act is actually the spirit of real democracy, the freedom of Information Act is a precursor to public revolution, Instructions have been issued to all deputy commissioners in Punjab for the establishment of RTI centers, transparency is a big challenge for corrupt elites, the the elites should come forward to help humanity.
These views were expressed by Chief Information Commissioner Punjab Mahboob Qadir Shah, founder and Chairman Akhuwat Foundation Dr. Amjad Saqib, RTI expert Mukhtar Ahmed Ali, motivational speaker Qasim Ali Shah, AS (Home) Malik Awais while addressing in inter-provincial workshop held at Alhamra Lahore by Punjab Information Commission, Deputy Commissioner Office Lahore and Center for Peace and Development Initiative.
At that occasion addressing the participants, Chief Information Commissioner Mahboob Qadir Shah said that to ensure transparency in day to day government affairs the law bestows a common man to enquire about utilization of resources and power by government functionaries and it does not conceal any information from the public. He said that PIC is struggling from day first to apprise the right of the common man to ensure transparency and right to information.
Expressing his views in the workshop well known RTI expert and former information commissioner Mukhtar Ahmed Ali imparted training to the officers from across the province on the importance of self-disclosure of information and its implementation.
He said that public bodies are bound to disclose all basic information under section 4 through the official website for the convenience of the citizens. On this occasion, Malik Awais Additional Secretary (Home) read out the message of Additional Chief Secretary (Homed) Asad Ullah Khan, in which he has said that the government of the Punjab support the idea of RTI centers at district level and system of self-disclosure of information. Additional Chief Secretary further said that he has issued directions to all deputy commissioners to ensure implementation on Transparency and Right to Information Act.
