25 January 2004	Sunday	02 Zilhaj 1424

PESHAWAR, Jan 24: Participants of a workshop here on Saturday urged provincial governments to enact laws on the pattern of the Freedom of Information Ordinance promulgated by the Federal Government in 2002.

The one-day consultative workshop on "Freedom of Information Ordinance 2002" was organized by the Centre of Civic Education in collaboration with the Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan (CRCP).

The participants pointed out that the provincial government offices had not been covered in the Freedom of Information Ordinance.

Dr Simin Mehmood Jan, an MPA of PML-Q, said every citizen had the basic right to information. After a deal between the MMA and the government on the LFO issue there was a need for legislation like the information ordinance at the provincial level also.

"I will raise this issue on the floor of the provincial assembly and table a bill to make such laws in the province also," she said.

The Freedom of Information Ordinance could be useful in rooting out corruption as it would bring about transparency in the government affairs, she added.

Asif Iqbal Daudzai, NWFP Information Minister, said the MMA government had made use of Urdu language in all official documents compulsory so that they were understood by all people.

He said proceedings of the national and provincial assemblies and Senate should be shown on television so that every citizen could be informed.

He said the Freedom Of Information Ordinance was promulgated in 2002 and was applicable to all departments run by the federal government, but so far this kind of legislation had not been done in the provincial assembly due to which common man was not properly informed about the provincial government policies.

Ahmed Khan, Dean of Law Faculty, University of Peshawar, said freedom of information and expression of views were the basic human rights and this fact was accepted in the information ordinance.

"Freedom of information is the extension of freedom of expression though there are loopholes in the Freedom of Information Ordinance in the form of exemptions and inaccessibility to certain information in the name of "Public interest" which is not clearly defined so there should be a well-defined limitation of freedom to access information," Mr Khan said.

Mukhtar Ahmed Ali of the CRCP said people could use this law to inform themselves about the government projects, budget and other policies.

"The Freedom of Information Ordinance will ensure transparency. This is a step forward towards developing a well-informed society," he said.

Others who spoke on the occasion included ANP's Haji Adeel, MPA Naeema Akhtar, MNA Farhana Banuri and resident director of the Aurat Foundation Rakhshanda Naz.