ISLAMABAD, Sept 21: The federal cabinet on Saturday approved the much-awaited Freedom of Information Ordinance, 2002, which seeks to ensure that the citizens have improved access to public records and the federal government is more accountable to its citizens.

The ordinance, which was approved at a meeting presided over by President Gen Pervez Musharraf, requires each public body to ensure that all records, as detailed in this law, are properly maintained.

Secretary Information, Syed Anwar Mehmood, provided the details of the cabinet decisions at a news conference.

The acts and subordinate legislation, such as rules and regulations, notifications, by-laws, manuals, orders having the force of law in Pakistan shall be duly published and made available at a reasonable price at an adequate number of outlets so that access thereof is easier, less time-consuming and less expensive.

Each public body shall endeavour, within reasonable time, and subject to availability of resources, that all records covered by the provisions of this ordinance are computerised and connected through a network all over the country on different systems so that authorized access to such records is facilitated.

Subject to the provisions of this law, the following record of all public bodies has been declared to be the public record. Namely.

a) Policies and guidelines,

b) Transactions involving acquisition in and disposal of property and expenditure undertaken by a public body in the performance of its duties.

c) Information regarding grant of licences, allotments and other benefits and privileges and contracts and agreements made by a public body.

d) Final orders and decisions, including decision relating to members of public, and

c) Any other record which may be notified by the federal government as public record for the purposes of this ordinance.

The aforementioned provision shall not apply to the following record of all public bodies, namely:

(a) Minutes of meetings.

(b) Any intermediary opinion or recommendation.

(c) Record of the banking companies and financial institutions relating to the accounts of their customers.

(d) Record relating to defence forces, defence installations or connected therewith or ancillary to defence and national security.

(e) Record declared as classified by the federal government.

(f) Record relating to the personal privacy of any individual.