CPDI Urges Immediate Establishment of Balochistan Information Commission
The Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) has issued a plea to the Chief Minister of Balochistan, urging the appointment of members to the Balochistan Information Commission, as mandated by the Balochistan Right to Information Act, 2021.
In a statement released on Monday, CPDI emphasized the pivotal role of the Information Commission in advancing transparency and accountability within the government.
The Balochistan Right to Information Act, passed by the Provincial Assembly on February 1, 2021, and approved by the Governor of Balochistan on February 15, 2021, imposes a legal obligation on the Balochistan government to appoint members to the Balochistan Information Commission within 180 days of the Act’s commencement as per Section 18(1).
However, despite this legal requirement, over two years have passed since the enactment of the Act, and the commission remains unstaffed. This delay not only contravenes the law but also undermines the very essence of the Balochistan Right to Information Act.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister of Balochistan, CPDI’s Executive Director, Mukhtar Ahmed Ali, underscored the significance of access to information in promoting effective governance, reducing corruption, and ensuring accountability within public institutions.
CPDI implored the Chief Minister to take immediate action to establish the Balochistan Information Commission, thereby fulfilling the government’s obligations under the Balochistan Right to Information Act, 2021.
Mukhtar Ahmed Ali further emphasized that Balochistan stands as the sole province where the Information Commission has not yet been established, depriving citizens of their fundamental right to information. He stressed that access to information is a constitutionally protected right in Pakistan, and the establishment of the Balochistan Information Commission is essential to safeguard this right.
CPDI has called upon the Balochistan government to promptly appoint members to the Balochistan Information Commission, thus ensuring transparency and accountability within the government.