–Punjab Information Commission chief commissioner says cannot keep list of PIOs updated amid massive shuffling, transfers in govt sector
LAHORE: Punjab Information Commission (PIC) has failed to update the list of public information officers (PIO) of all provincial government departments to cater the general public and the officers’ contact information available on the internet is outdated as well, Pakistan Today has learnt.
PIC is an independent body, the responsibility of which is to ensure the enforcement of the right to information (RTI). It was established in 2015 under the Punjab Transparency and RTI Act, 2013, whereas the role of the commission is to set the required mechanisms for RTI in Punjab, raise public awareness of the law, help public bodies comply with the law, train public information officers, monitor their performance, decide complaints and take action against those failing to comply.
However, three years have passed and the commission has still been unable to provide the general public with the complete information and details of PIOs.
According to sources, the commission, in 2015, directed all government departments of the province to nominate their focal person and provide his or her name, contact number and email address to PIC.
They said that most of the government departments followed the instructions and sent the details to PIC whereas some departments and their officials were reluctant to provide the needed information. Upon receiving the data from the government departments, PIC prepared a list of PIOs of Punjab whereas the departments that did not provide the details were missing in the list.
“The list prepared by PIC was already incomplete and needed to be updated on a regular basis but the commission never came up with one.”
Sources also informed Pakistan Today that the list was now outdated as most of the PIOs had been transferred to other departments and they did not bother to respond to public queries. PIC’s PIO is also missing from the list, they added.
“The general public usually contacts the department or PIO concerned for information but most of the numbers are unresponsive. Some are wrong numbers or do not exist anymore.”
“Some major departments like civil defence, housing, FIA, police, cane commissioner, universities, colleges and schools are missing from the list. The commission has powers to fulfil these tasks and can also impose fines on officers who are not providing the details but PIC appears to be least bothered,” they said, adding the commission should update the list on a regular basis for the public and keep a check on the false information provided by any department.
Punjab Information Commission Chief Commissioner Mehboob Qadir Shah, while speaking to Pakistan Today said, “We cannot keep the list of PIOs updated as there is massive shuffling and transfers in the government sector whereas some of the people retire or pass away as well.”
“I have suggested the government to make changes in the law and declare PIO as a post instead of a person. The amendments have been forwarded to the provincial assembly and I hope it will be taken up soon. We are also working on the new website and within a week’s time we will have a better and revised one,” he said.