ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Informa­tion Commission on Saturday notified a schedule of costs for getting information from federal public bodies under the Right of Access to Information Act 2017.

According to the notification, federal public bodies are to provide free of cost the first 10 pages of information requested under the Act and can charge two rupees per page for every extra page.

Also, federal public bodies will only charge the actual cost of a CD, diskette, floppy, cassette, video or any other electronic device as determined on the basis of the official procurement record.

In a statement issued by the chief information commissioner, citizens will no longer be required to first deposit a fee for requesting information. Previously, citizens were required to deposit Rs50 at the time of submitting an information request to a federal public body under the Freedom of Information Rules 2004. The commission notified the schedule of costs under the powers conferred to it by Section 27 (b) of the Right of Access to Information Act 2017 (XXXIV of 2017).

These costs will be applicable to all federal ministries, attached departments, divisions, autonomous bodies, statutory bodies established under any federal law, courts, commissions, tribunals, National Assembly, Senate of Pakistan, Prime Minister Office and any board, commission, council or other bodies substantially financed by the government.

It will also be applicable to special institutions, companies of the government and NGOs that are substantially financed by the government.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2019