ISLAMABAD, DEC 16 (DNA) -In pursuance of Prime Minister’s Digital Pakistan program, the Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan on Monday launched the website of Pakistan Information Commission.
The launching ceremony arranged by the Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO) was held at Information Service Academy Islamabad, which was attended by a large number of students and civil society representatives.
While addressing the launching ceremony, the Special Assistant on Information said it is aimed at providing credible and certified information to the people including the journalists about any institution or the priorities of the government.
She said the Information Commission since its establishment last year has received two hundred and twenty applications, out of these one hundred has been addressed by the commission.
Syed Kausar Abbas – Director SSDO – said, right to information is a basic toll for the social accountability, adding that using the right to information laws the citizen can make the public bodies accountable.
He maintained, launching website of PIC is a step towards digital Pakistan, it will facilitate the citizen in the provision of information within the stipulated time period given in the law.
Mohammad Azam – Chief Information Commissioner PIC – briefed the audience about the features of the PIC website. He also explained the performance of PIC.
In compliance of the Right of Access to Information Act 2017, the PIC annual report will be present in the National Assembly within next two weeks, he maintained.
Zahid Abdulallah – Information Commissioner PIC – said, despite the lack of resources the PIC has issed 10 landmark decision, which is also upheld by the Islamabad High Court.
Answering the questions of Media persons, the Special Assistant on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan has said government believes in across the board accountability by empowering the institutions.
She said it is the first time that the influential people have been made subservient to the institutions.
She said National Accountability Bureau is functioning independently today like never before.
She regretted that the previous governments did not allow the institutions function independently for their vested interests.
When asked about the bail of former President Asif Ali Zardari, the special assistant said there is a long list of cases against him.
She pointed out that there are eleven references, twenty inquiries and thirteen investigations pending against the former President.=DNA
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