Senate body considers draft of freedom of information law

A sub-committee of the Senate Information and Broadcasting Committee met and considered the draft of freedom of information law on Tuesday.
The meeting of the body was presided over by its convener Farhatullah Babar who was of the view that the draft should be finalised at the earliest in order to ensure transparency and accountability.
He said the draft should bind the government officials and the NGOs to provide access to information and directed the officials concerned that those points which were exempted in the draft should carry reasons, in writing.
Babar said there should be a legislation to make NGOs bound to provide information about their foreign aid and expenditures along with audit details in order to people know about them like they had information about any government organisation.
He directed the Information Ministry to have consultations with CPNE, APNS and PFUJ to address reservations to pave the way for giving final shape to the draft.
He was of the view there should be a separate department for provision of access to information in the Ombudsman’s Secretariat.
He said that the federal and provincial governments were agreed on implementation of access to information bill. He thanked the information and law ministries in finalisation of the draft.
The committee discussed each aspect of the draft and directed the concerned officials of the Law and Information and Broadcasting ministries to follow, accordingly.
The next meeting of the committee would give final approval to the draft next week.
The meeting was attended by Senator Daud Khan Achakzai, Information Secretary Dr Nazir Saeed and Law Secretary Hakim Khan.