The Center for Governance and Public Accountability (CGPA), in collaboration with the Balochistan Information Commission, organized a one-day seminar at the Balochistan Food Authority, Quetta, on the topic “Implementation of the Right to Information Act 2021 in Balochistan and Challenges in its Implementation.”The seminar brought together Public Information Officers (PIOs), civil society representatives, government officials, and media personnel to review progress on RTI implementation, identify key challenges, and discuss the way forward for strengthening transparency and access to information in the province.In the opening session, Executive Director of AID Balochistan, Adil Jahangir, and Manager Advocacy and Protection, Mir Bahram Lehri, highlighted that although the RTI law has been enacted and foundational steps—such as the establishment of the Information Commission and nomination of Public Information Officers—have been taken, significant implementation gaps still remain.
They identified key challenges including weak institutional capacity, delays in information sharing, and limited awareness of proactive disclosure requirements under the law. These gaps, they noted, are affecting the effective functioning of the Right to Information framework in Balochistan. They stressed the need for stronger bureaucratic responsiveness, timely provision of information, full enforcement of RTI provisions, appointment of remaining Information Commissioners, and expansion of awareness initiatives across all districts of Balochistan.The RTI Information Commissioner, Mr. Abdul Shakoor, briefed participants on the mandate and responsibilities of the Commission and responded to queries from civil society representatives regarding operational and implementation challenges. He acknowledged existing constraints while emphasizing the need for improved coordination and stronger institutional mechanisms to ensure effective implementation of the law.Director General Public Relations, Mr. Askar Khan, underscored that accountability cannot be achieved in isolation and requires strong coordination among all stakeholders. He stated that accountability is a collective system in which every institution has a defined role, emphasizing collaboration between government departments, civil society, and the Information Commission.
The seminar also outlined key recommendations for the way forward, including strengthening e-governance systems, ensuring proactive disclosure of information, improving inter-departmental coordination, and enhancing the capacity of Public Information Officers to address existing implementation gaps.The event concluded with a shared commitment from all participants to strengthen coordination, address implementation challenges, improve institutional capacity, and promote transparency and proactive disclosure for the effective implementation of the Right to Information law in Balochistan.
