PESHAWAR, Feb 27: Centre for Governance and Public Accountability (CGPA), an NGO, has called for enactment of law on access to information in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as per international best practices of rights.

In a press release here, the CGPA said that the constitutional right of citizens would continue to be violated by public bodies due to absence of such legislation.

It expressed its concern over non-distribution of budget documents among 23 of 25 districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Of all the districts, the relevant financial departments and institutes provided budget documents to only two district officers despite filing of request by the CGPA with relevant officers of the respective districts.

It was stated that the CGPA had filed requests for provision of copies of district health and education budget documents of fiscal year 2011-2012 and 2012-2013. However, of total 25 district officers (finance and planning) only two (Chitral and Upper Dir) provided the information, while the CGPA did not get any response from DOs-F&P of remaining 23 districts of KP.

The centre lamented that such an attitude of public service providers was causing frustration amongst citizens, as provision of such information could do a lot for public welfare and promote citizens’ trust in state functionaries.

“Treating budget documents as official secrets is tantamount to violation of basic constitution right of the citizens,” it added. —Bureau Report