Ijlal Riffat
The right to information is a powerful instrument to achieve the objective of good governance in a country. Without access to the information, the mission to establish a transparent and accountable society remains an illusion. The right to information, in its most stable terms, means that the residents of a country should have easy access to the records of the government, documents of the government, and the day-to-day official activities of the government.
It gives state citizens the right to access information about the operation of any public authority or institution. In a society in which democracy is an established norm, the government is responsible for its actions towards the people. In other words, people have the right to keep themselves aware of government activities. The availability of free and easy access to information for the residents of a state is now an established norm in the international arena.
Subsequently, Pakistan attempted to enact right-to-information laws in the country. Through the 18th Amendment passed in 2010, the government acknowledged the citizens right to access information. While implementing the constitutional amendment, the right to information commissions were established in the provinces. For instance, in the year 2013, in Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa, an act was passed in the provincial assembly promulgating right to information (RTI) laws.
The move was admired widely. However, various civil society organizations (CSOs) have pointed out various loopholes in the right to information laws. They argue that there are certain international standards that need to be incorporated into the existing RTI rules for easier and more affordable access to information.
Moving towards the significance of the right to information laws in the governance model, it is a good move to empower citizens of a country to hold their official public institutions accountable. In a larger domain, it is helpful in curbing corruption and detecting maladministration. The availability of information equips a person to understand that no public official could overcharge them for a service.
Furthermore, citizens can inquire about the ongoing local projects, such as road construction, street dismantling, repairs, and many more, thus strengthening the local governance system. The right to information laws establish an open environment in which the layman can question the operation of a public authority, paving the way for an efficient governance system. Last but not least, the efficient democratic environment created in the wake of the right to information laws helps citizens affect the decision-making process at the government level.
To sum up, the enactment of RTI laws serves as the foundation for an open and dynamic government. It has enhanced the general welfare of the masses by involving them in national affairs. The need of the hour is that citizens should be aware of their due and constitutional rights, so in this way, they would benefit society and play a vital role in ensuring an effective governance system. Therefore, the implementation of the right to information laws is a prerequisite for the practice of good governance in a nation.
