Secrecy is a norm. It is a bane of the country. From polity to governance to corporate boardrooms, it provides a veil for misuse and waste of valuable resources and facilitates abuse of public trust.

Stakes are certainly high for the vested interests, enjoying unearned privileges, to allow free flow of information.

The battle of right to know against the practice of withholding information, therefore, reflects the bitter struggle against the prevalent pattern of political and economic privileges.

Issues related to impact of the culture of secrecy on politics is up to the politicians and social scientists to comment on. The economic case for promoting transparency that continues to perform much below its potential is very strong.

Economic experts agree that transparency is likely to lead to higher efficiency by encouraging free competition, discouraging corruption and promoting public scrutiny and accountability.

Transparency can be defined in a number of ways. An accepted definition describes it as: “a process by which information about existing conditions, decisions and actions is made accessible, visible and understandable”. It, therefore, refers to the degree to which information is available to outsiders that enable them to form an opinion.

Today openness and free flow of information is advocated in all societies to create the public push to move on to better democracy and a higher level of development. It, however, is all the more crucial in societies where institutions are weak and in their early evolutionary stages. In such environments, the feeble progressive elements need the support of the public opinion, to change the status quo. It would be unrealistic to expect the segments that feed on weak institutional structures to voluntarily loosen their grip. This grip permits them to exercise discretionary powers to advance their interests even at the cost of the society.

In countries, like Pakistan, informed public, that stands to gain most from strong institutions and better governance, can provide the pressure to energise the engine of progress. For, in the end, it is the underprivileged who have borne the cost of misappropriation of resources and underperformance of the both—the market and the government.

In modern globalised world, trading partners also exert pressure for strong institutions and transparent system in less developed and developing economies for a greater compatibly with their home systems, considered vital for closer economic ties.

It was probably under pressure of foreign trading partners that President General Pervez Musharraf introduced a legislation to promote public access to information. In 2002 Pakistan Freedom of Information Ordinance was enacted. The experiences of last five years, however, show that framing rules, though necessary, are not enough for the desired transformation of society.

Even today, five years later, let alone an ordinary private person, even media seeking information find itself up against those holding information. People in authority are inclined not to share information or even their true opinion because of deep entrenched habits. The reservations must also be there because of their fear of how the information might be used.

The classic example in the public arena is the mystery shrouding the affairs of the collapse of a bridge in Karachi. The Shershah Bridge that formed part of the Northern Bypass crashed just 20 days after it was opened. The collapse added one more dimension of fear in the freight-stricken lives of Karachiites. In the megapolis, after the sad incident people are seen struggling to do the impossible: avoid underpasses and overhead bridges criss-crossing the city’s major junctions.

The media in the country followed the incident. Graphic details, eyewitness accounts and post-accident developments were reported. Most analysis, however, focussed on technicalities. As a result despite extensive coverage people do not clearly know who is responsible for the sad happening. The incident left the impression on the collective psyche that bridges in the city are not safe.

In the routine that follow such situationsm, committee has been formed to probe reasons and fix the responsibility. Higher ups felt no need or urgency to address the concerns of people regarding the security standards of other bridges.

It is a typical example of how confusion serves the irresponsible to avoid the public wrath.

Facts gathered showed that National Logistic Cell (NLC), a company owned by the army, constructed the bridge. Instead of being penalised for low quality work, after two weeks the same company was awarded another lucrative contract. The NLC was chosen again, this time to clear the site by removing the debris of the collapsed bridge.

Unfortunately, the public did not get the other view for the independent engineering forums preferred to play down the incident by keeping mum.

Further investigations revealed that the Northern Bypass project falls under the federal ministry of communication. It was handled by National Highway Authority (NHA), a department under the ministry. It was technically NHA that commissioned it to NLC after supposedly due diligence. According to reports, services of a consultancy, Engineering Consultant Engineers was also hired to clear the bridge for the opening. The role of the city government was ambiguous in the reports that appeared in press.

To get a perspective, an attempt was made by Dawn to solicit views of the ferderal minister for communication Shamim Siddiqui, federal secretary of communications Tariq Mahmood, head of NHA Major General Imtiaz Ahmed and Director general NLC Major General Syed Haider Javed, city mayor Mustaffa Kamal and representatives of the said consultancy and engineer’s forums.

Only chairman NHA Major General Imtiaz was kind enough to make himself available over telephone from Islamabad. Everyone else had other more pressing pre-occupations and no time to comment on issue that can earn them ire of powerful lobbies.

Major General Imtiaz, however, declined politely to offer his comments. “The inquiry committee is probing the incident. Offering public comments at this stage is not appropriate. Let the committee finish its investigations and come out with results and we will pass them on to you with our remarks”, he said.

A senior bureaucrat, who wished not to be identified, blamed political clout of the Pakistan army and greed of its multifarious outfits to bag all lucrative public works contracts, for the disaster. “What business does a logistic company had with construction? Can a private shipping company even qualify to make a bid for a healthcare project?”, he questioned. He felt that military business concerns have crowded out the civilian establishments from several areas.

A source in engineering sector, however, told Dawn that civil concerns opt not to compete for mega projects because their bills get stuck and the government takes too long to clear their bills for payments. “If at all they go for such projects in collaboration with military business companies as their clout come handy in getting prompt payments from the concerned departments of the government”, he disclosed.

On socially irresponsible silence maintained by the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC), Pakistan Institute of Engineers or consultancy forums of engineers have insight and capability to give an independent view on the Northern Bypass mystery. But these organisations are not airing their views because they did not want to upset the powerful lobbies that support their businesses, the same source said. He also blamed absence of an elected body for PEC’s inaction. For the last several years PEC has been led by an ad hoc committee after its elections were blocked by a Presidential order not to let an unwanted person to be elected its head.

In Pakistan, hope rests with the people. And as long people are ill-informed, confused and divided, bridges will continue to fall, inefficiencies will continue to put valuable resources to waste, the quality of governance will continue to deteriorate and the nation will continue to mourn for avoidable losses in men and material.