Sindh Transparency, Right to Information Bill adopted by PA

The Sindh Assembly on Monday finally adopted "The Sindh Transparency and Right to Information Bill 2016" into law with a unanimous vote to authorise citizens to have access to needed information, data, facts, etc. Under the adopted bill, the Sindh Information Commission will be established to implement the law ensuring public access to the needed information. Under the commission, a 3-member body will oversee the matters and grade-20 official will head the committee.
Now citizens are required to submit request to access the needed information. It is now binding on the concerned department to reply to the request between 15 and 30 days from the date it receives the request, according to the bill. "This law will help provide access to the general public to key information, establish good governance and end corruption," Sindh Senior Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Nisar Khuhro told the house after the passage of bill.
He warned the government officials of fine and imprisonment if they failed to reply the requisition within the stipulated period. Before the bill adoption, he presented a concerned committee's report on the Sindh Transparency and Right to Information Bill, which was also passed unanimously by the legislators. Lauding the provincial legislature, he said that it has been a stride by the assembly toward transparency and access to the information. He said that now, even an ordinary person will have the right to have details of the government departments.
"This legislation is aimed at making the government departments accountable," Khuhro said, adding that the law is of public importance. MQM's veteran, Syed Sardar Ahmed termed the law 'important,' because it permits every citizen of the province to seek the government departments' information. He asked the officials to provide requested information without creating bureaucratic hurdles. He also praised the parliamentary parties in the Assembly for the law. To PTI's Samar Ali Khan, the legislation was a pleasant act for the province. He appreciated Raza Gardezi of NGO Shehri for assisting the assembly's concerned committee vis-à-vis drafting the law. The assembly session was prorogued.