EDITORIAL NOTE Inclusion of Right to Infor- newsletter with the same spirit ly focused on the audience RTI from Pakistan to the each mation (RTI) in Sustainable and cause as it will be dissem- needs. It covers major activ- corner of the globe. Development Goals 2030 as inated through email, direct ities of Punjab Information At last but not the least, we a major target has increased mail and on spot distribution Commission in form of news, need and welcome your its importance manifold. among maximum audience. photographs, articles, an- valuable feedback to improve Regarded as one of the most The layout, design and content nouncements besides what is it. I assure that each word of powerful laws, the RTI law of the newsletter has been being done in RTI across the the audience, either based needs most effective tools developed by the GIZ Interns world. I thank my team for on criticism or admiration, to be well understood by its hired from different educa- its utmost efforts to turn my will guide us to success and stakeholders in terms of im- tional institutions who are dream into a reality. I hope achieving the desired goals. plementation and awareness. supporting understaffed PIC. PIC’s first periodic publica- Punjab Information Commis- While selecting and editing tion will become a powerful Haji Ahmad sion (PIC) has launched this its content, we have main- voice spreading message of Naeem (Executive Director)

Instructions for Applicants •The application must be addressed to the In relevant Public Information Officer (PIO) with his complete address. However, Head of this the public body also can be added. •To avoid delay & complications the volume issue of required information should be kept to the point & possibly minimum as public body will provide 20 copies free of cost while Rs. PAGE 2 2/- will be charged for each additional copy. Human Rights •Keep the proof of receipt either application activist, Mr. Toby sent by hand or through courier/post. At this Mendel visits PIC stage no copy of application is required to send to the Punjab Information Commission. Awaz Foundaton •Wait for 14 or maximum 28 days. In case of C.E , visits PIC denial or no response, you can file an appeal to the Head of same Public body or send a GIZ & PIC compliant to Chief Information Commis- planning sioner Punjab by attaching the copy of first workshop in application & receipt. • The Commission will seek explana- Islamabad tion from the concerned PIO and will update to the applicant. PAGE 3 • The Punjab Transparency & RTI Act GIZ Advisor pays 2013 can address complaints only against the a farewell visit to public bodies of Punjab Province. It cannot seek information from federal departments. PIC • The commission should be in- formed if the information is received to save RTI around the the time & money of public bodies. world. • Due to shortage of staff the commis- sion is not in the position to receive through E-mails. Please, send the applications by PAGE 4 hand & by post. PILDAT & PIC con- Respectable citizens are requested to read the ducted training of Act carefully before lodging an application PIOs or complaint. The Urdu version of the Act is also available on www.rti.punjab.pk. Success story

EDITOR: HAJI AHMAD NAEEM CO-EDITORS: IQRA NASEEB, BAHAWAL SIPRA, ALI ASSAD fb.com/punjabinfocom/ @punjabinfocom @punjabinfocom rti.punjab.gov.pk March 2018 Isssue 1

Global RTI activist Toby Mendel visits PIC PIC office LAHORE: Mr. Tobby Mendel visited session between the interns and Mr. shifted PIC to discuss the current status of Mendel, in which interns participated Office of Punjab Infor- Punjab Transparency and Right To and learned benefits about RTI mation Commission Information Act 2013 on 27th Feb utilization. The interns shared their has been shifted from 2018, with Mr. Ahmad Naeem Malik, awareness tools with him for feedback. 14-T Gulberg-II to Executive Director, and the interns. 68-1-C, Model Town, Mr. Mendel provided an insight to Lahore. how RTI Law was being implementing New telephone No. across the globe and compared it with +92 42-99231507-8 Pakistan. Fax No. In the meeting, Mr Mendel shared that +92 42-35915778 he was developing a tool for assessing implementation of RTI law in Pakistan. PIC launches new The meeting was an interactive website (rti.punjab.gov.pk) Punjab Information C.E.O of Awaz Foundation visits PIC Commission has launched Lahore: C.E.O of Awaz Foundation Is- ed that one of the most important steps a new website that is more lamabad, Mr. Zia ur Rehman visited was the implementation of the Punjab colorful, vibrant and user Punjab Information Commission to Transparency and Right to Information friendly. The new website discussion about current status of The law that has enabled citizens to access has been developed by the PITB Team. Content Right to Information act with the Exec- information from any Public bodies has been upgraded to utive Director PIC, Mr. Ahmed Naeem and restored their confidence in Gov- make it more informative In the meeting Mr.Naeem Malik briefed ernment. for the users with Urdu him on the Punjab Transparency and translation of the Act. In Right to Information Act 2013 and the future, the website will measures Punjab Government is taking have online Complaint to make the information accessible and Managment Information ensure the transparency. System (CMIS), told by In an exchange of dialogues, Mr. Zia the Executive Director acknowledged the work of Punjab In- of PIC Naeem Malik. He formation Commission and said that it requested the citizens to visit the new website and will be a landmark for good governance give their feedback for and in helping common people. further improvements. Further, Mr. Ahmad Naeem Malik add- PIC participates in Partner Planning Workshop 2018 ISLAMABAD: Punjab Infor- tivities along with timelines mation Commission partic- and shared responsibilities ipated in “Partner Planning regarding the implementation Workshop 2018” at a local of RTI law in Punjab during hotel. 2018 were discussed in de- The purpose of the workshop tail. Representatives from the was to analyse the previous GIZ, PIC, Excise, Taxation & performance of LoGo Pro- Narcotics Department Pun- gram and discuss the work jab, District Health Authori- plan for next year. Moreover, ty Kasur, and Civil Societies the upcoming policies and ac- participated in the workshop.

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GIZ Advisor’s farewell visit to PIC Nomination of PIO, A Legal re- Lahore: Advisor for sponsibility of State Citizens Dia- each public body logue of GIZ, Ms. Under Section 7 of the Janine Badauch, Punjab Transparency & paid a farewell visit Right to Information Act to PIC, where she 2013 its obligated to nom- was recieved by inate a Public Information Executive Director Officer in Government of PIC Mr. Ahmad departments, attached Naeem Malik. She departments and NGOs receiving funding from was pleased to meet Punjab Government. the interns from It is a responsibilty of the different universi- Head of Department of ties engaged under each public body to issue LoGo Programe. a notification for nom- Ms. Janine ex- ination of 16 or above changed views with rights of the public.” grade officer as Public She lauded the interest of the interns Information Officer in the interns on RTI intervention in Pun- each sub-ordinate offic- jab and relevant issues regarding the in RTI Law and their efforts to pro- mote it through learning and prac- es as earliest. A copy of implementation. She quoted, the notification should ticce proces. Mr. Naeem and Interns “the German Government believes in be sent to the Punjab proactive collarations with Pakistan to Coordinator, Mr. Umar Imtiaz Rana Information Commission empower its citizens by improving their gave account of Ms. Janine’s contri- at following address lives. The RTI Law is one of the pow- bution anefforts towards supporting 68-1-C Model Town, Lahore erful tools that effectively protects all the PIC. Mexico on the Top List of DC’s of Bahawalpur RTI around the Global RTI rating and RY Khan desig- World nated PIOs According to the Global Right to Asian region is also a strong ADDL Deputy Commis- Information rating, the most no- performer according to the sioner (G) Bahawalpur table change in the latest rank- new ratings with every coun- nominated sixty-six Public ings is the displacement of Serbia try scoring over 100 points ex- Information Officers and as the top country on the rating cept Pakistan. Pakistan’s fed- Deputy Commissioner (G) for the first time since it was eral law scored only 66 points Rahim Yar Khan nominat- launched in 2011. Mexico has and is placed in the 89th po- ed forty-nine Public In- now replaced Serbia in the top sition. formation Officers (PIOs). spot by earning 136 points. Five countries enacted a RTI The nominated Public In- Status of other countries like legislation in 2016 that formation Officers (PIO’s) Among the new countries that includes Kenya, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Togo and Vietnam. are from various govern- enacted the legislation, the Countries like Iran, Austria, ment departments such as strongest law was found to be Jordan, and Germany are in Health, Agriculture, and that of Sri Lanka, which scored 121 points, putting it at 9th place the bottom 10 of these rank- Livestock etc. ings. The request was made by globally. Every country in South Asia now has a RTI like legisla- PIC on 30-01-2018. tion except Bhutan. The South Source: (www.rti-rating.org)

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PILDAT & PIC conduct training for PIOs Bahawalpur, Lodhran: Pakistan Institute of Legislative Develop- ment and Transparency (PILDAT) and PIC arranged seperate training sessions for Public Information Officers of different departments of Bahawalpur and Lodhran. The particpants were addressed by the Execuitive Director of PILDAT, Mr. Ahmed Bilal Meh- Participants of Bahawalpur workshop boob, former Chief Information Commissioner KP, Professor. Kaleem ullah former Informa- tion Commissioner of PIC Ma- lik Ahmed Raza Tahir, Excutive Director of PIC Mr. Naeem Malik and Project Director Ms Anisa Dar. The particpants expressed that the training was very useful for the Lodhran: Ex.Information Commissioner Punjab Ahmad Raza Tahir addressing par- PIOs. ticipants of workshops.

Inacessbility to Information By Bahawal Sipra In order to provide public with their de- related to the functioning, spending and We have often heard the phrase that sired information, a legal framework is actions of the government and the public information is power but in true sense, formed, which is known as the Right to can use RTI Law to file a complain if they information is the first step that is used to Information Act. Several countries have are denied to access the information. exercise politicial and economic power. adopted it across the globe including RTI can help in fighting against corrup- When the public is unable to access infor- Pakistan. According to the Global Right tion, as the public will be well aware of the mation, an environment of mistrust, dis- to Information analysis report 2016, 111 government spending empowerment and frustration is created countries have national level right to This is an excellent grass root idea in because the public don’t have the infor- information laws. participatory democracy. Therefore right mation of the policies and activities of the In Pakistan, the law is being implement- to information law is a catalytic tool and government, which further unable them ed in two different provinces, which are can bring a silent revolution. The existing to participate in the democratic process. KP and Punjab. Whereas the Punjab law has sufficient provisions available to A great importance is given to informa- Transparency and Right to Information address genuine concerns of the people. tion as according to the International Hu- Act 2013 is being implemented in the Encouragement is needed to inform on man Rights NGO Article 19, information area of Punjab. With the help of RTI, illicit practices to help counter and prevent is described as “the oxygen of democracy”. the public can access to the information corruption. SUCCESS STORY A Citizen applauds PIC on getting information An applicant named Dr. Naseer Ahmad struggling for getting requested informa- Shahzad S/O Abdul Hameed R/O Chak tion for last seven years and had to visit No. 129 SB District Sargodha wrote a the DPO Office repeatedly. Applauding letter of thanks to the Chief Information the role of Punjab Transparency & Right Commissioner Punjab on obtaining to Information Act 2013, Mr. Naseer information from District Police Office declared it a citizen’s friendly law. Sargodha in a short time. The applicant disclosed that he had been

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