The Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) in collaboration with Individualland (IL) Wednesday organized a one-day seminar on ‘CSOs engagement session’ with Federal and Provincial Institutions for ‘Social Inclusion’.
The event marks a significant milestone to foster collaborative partnerships and effective dialogue between the provincial, federal institutions and civil society, said a press release.
During introductory remarks, Mukhtar Ahmad Ali, Executive Director CPDI emphasized the pivotal role of inclusive governance in driving progress.
He underscored the indispensable role of the Right to Information (RTI) in promoting transparency and accountability. Additionally, he highlighted the significant impact of the establishment of Information Commissions, which served to streamline and facilitate the process of accessing vital information.
Zahid Abdullah, RTI advisor to CPDI brought attention to a critical issue through his comprehensive report “The Invisibility of Women with Disabilities in National Data Sets: Gender Disparities in Access to Disability-Insignia CNICs.”
His findings revealed a stark contrast: among the 592,072 disabilityinsignia #CNICs issued across the nation, a significant gender gap emerged, with 420,715 issued to males and a notably lower count of 171,357 issued to females. AqalSajjad, a distinguished Research Fellow at Arizona University, emphasized the pivotal role of local government, delving into its significance from both national and international vantage points.
Notably, he highlighted the vital function of local governance in cultivating effective and ethical leadership.
He also underscored the indispensable nature of citizen consultation as a cornerstone of authentic democratic processes. ShoaibSiddique, Chief Information Commissioner at Pakistan Information Commission, provided a comprehensive update on the progress of the RTI Act 2017.
