RTI Compliance Varies Widely Across Pakistan, Transparency Report Finds
A Transparency International Pakistan report, released ahead of Global Right to Know Day, found that government departments' proactive disclosure compliance ranges from 28% in Balochistan to 59% in Punjab. The federal government scored 47%, with the Ministry of Finance leading at 83% and several ministries below 35%. Budget and expenditure information was the weakest disclosure area across all jurisdictions.
The report's findings reveal a stark disparity in transparency practices, with provincial governments in Balochistan and Sindh disclosing less than a third of required information, while Punjab approaches two-thirds compliance. Budget and expenditure details emerged as the most neglected category, scoring below 40 percent everywhere, which directly impedes public oversight of government spending. Additionally, many departments failed to publish contact information for their Public Information Officers, creating a barrier for citizens seeking documents not available online.
The assessment covered 98 departments across five jurisdictions, with several ministries falling into the minimal compliance category. The report's recommendations include adopting standardized disclosure formats, providing regular training and institutional support for information officers, and strengthening online publication practices. Notably, two Balochistan departments had websites that were completely inaccessible, preventing any evaluation of their transparency efforts.
This report could affect how Pakistani citizens and civil society organizations pursue government accountability, as weak proactive disclosure forces reliance on formal RTI requests, which are often slower and more cumbersome. Poor budget transparency may particularly impact journalists, researchers, and oversight bodies attempting to track public spending. The wide provincial disparities could also influence donor funding decisions and public trust in institutions, potentially prompting pressure for standardized disclosure practices across all government levels.