The Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act, 2013
The Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act, 2013 was enacted to promote answerability in the functioning of the Government departments. The law was enacted to improve access to public information and to make the Government more accountable to its citizens. The Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act, 2013 has its roots in fundamental rights enshrined in Article 19 A of the Constitution which was inserted vide 18th amendment in the year 2010. The law envisages that every person who is a citizen of Pakistan can give an application to the public information officer for having an information as a matter of right in respect of information held by a public body. The public information officers are the designated or notified officers of a public body which shall be designated in all administrative units or offices of a public office under this Act. The public information officer is supposed to respond to an application within 14 working days. An unsatisfied citizen can make a complaint to Punjab Information Commission (established under Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act, 2013) in case the desired information is denied/refused or not provided within stipulated time. The terms ‘information’; ‘public information’; ‘public body’ are defined in the Act. The Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Ordinance, 2013 is repealed. The Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Rules, 2014 were enacted under this act.
