Using Right to Information (RTI) Laws in Pakistan

Pakistan has a multi-layered RTI framework. Which law applies depends on **which level of government** holds the information you want:

| Your target | Applicable law |

| --- | --- |

| Federal government / federal public bodies | Freedom of Information Ordinance, 2002 |

| Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | KP Right to Information Act, 2013 |

| Punjab | Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act, 2013 |

| Sindh | Sindh Transparency and Right to Information Act, 2016 |

| Balochistan | Balochistan Right to Information Act, 2025 |

| Gilgit-Baltistan | GB Right to Information Act, 2014 (amended 2023) |

| Azad Jammu & Kashmir | AJK Right to Information Act, 2020 |

Step-by-Step: How to File an RTI Application

1. Identify the right public body

Pin down exactly which department or institution holds the information (e.g., a district education office, a development authority, a utility company owned by the government).

2. Draft your request

- Address it to the **Designated Officer / Public Information Officer** of that body

- State clearly what information you want — be specific. Vague requests get rejected or delayed

- State that you are requesting it "under the Right to Information Act" applicable to that province/level

- Include your name, address, and contact details (anonymity is generally not required; some laws require identification)

3. Pay the fee

- Fee is minimal — typically around **Rs. 50** (e.g., KP: Rs. 50 per request; Punjab/Sindh have similar nominal fees; the federal Ordinance requires Rs. 50 plus copying costs)

- Payable by postal order, bank draft, or in person

- Information about *your own personal records* (e.g., your file, pension, service record) is often free

4. Submit

- In person (get a stamped receipt), by registered post, or — in KP, Punjab and Sindh — via **online portals** (Punjab and Sindh have official online RTI portals; KP has an online system too)

Timelines

| Province/Level | Response deadline |

| --- | --- |

| KP | 10 working days (extendable) |

| Punjab | 14 working days (extendable by 14 more) |

| Sindh | 15 working days |

| Federal (2002 Ordinance) | 21 working days |

If They Refuse or Ignore You

1. **First appeal** → to the **Chief Information Commissioner** (in KP/Sindh/Punjab/Balochistan, via the provincial Information Commission). In the federal system, appeal to the **Mohtasib (Ombudsman)**.

2. The Commission can order disclosure, impose penalties on officers, and fine departments (Sindh's law, for example, allows fines up to Rs. 25,000 and disciplinary action).

3. **Second appeal** → to the courts or, in some frameworks, further review before the Commission.

What Information Is Exempt

Common exemptions across all laws: national security matters, ongoing judicial proceedings, personal privacy of third parties, and information whose disclosure would harm an ongoing investigation or fair trial. **Malafide (bad-faith) requests can be rejected**, so frame requests neutrally.

Practical Tips

- Ask for **documents/records** ("copies of minutes of meeting X", "list of contracts awarded in 2025") — that's what the law compels disclosure of; avoid fishing expeditions

- Keep the **receipt and proof of postage** — you'll need them for appeals

- Sensitive topics (military, intelligence agencies) are largely outside RTI scope at the federal level

- RTI has been used effectively in Pakistan for things like: **pension files, plot allotment records, development project budgets, exam results inquiries, and police case records**