Islamabad, March 2, 2025: A recent report by the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) reveals that public bodies in Punjab proactively disclose only 52 percent of legally required information on their official websites, highlighting gaps in transparency despite moderate progress.
The assessment, conducted under FAFEN’s Countering Disinformation through Information campaign, underscores the crucial role of proactive disclosures in strengthening institutional credibility and combating misinformation. The report warns that the absence of official and authentic information fuels speculation, rumors, and disinformation, eroding public trust and contributing to instability.
FAFEN evaluated 253 public entities under the Punjab Government Rules of Business, 2011, assessing compliance with Section 4 of the Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act (PTRIA) 2013. While the PTRIA 2013 does not mandate digital disclosures, Punjab’s transparency performance surpassed the federal government, which, despite legal obligations under the Right of Access to Information Act, 2017, discloses only 42 percent of required information on official websites. FAFEN stressed that, although Punjab law does not explicitly require online disclosures, official websites remain the most effective and globally accepted tool for transparency.
The assessment, conducted between January 15 and 29, 2025, found Punjab Secretariat Departments leading in transparency, disclosing 61 percent of required information. However, other public entities lagged behind, with attached departments disclosing 53 percent, autonomous bodies 51 percent, special institutions 49 percent, and government companies 37 percent. Among the top-performing institutions, the Provincial Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Department, Punjab Prisons, and the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, achieved over 80 percent compliance. However, nearly half of the public bodies, particularly autonomous organizations and government companies, failed to meet the 50 percent threshold.
While basic organizational details such as functions and legal frameworks were widely available, financial and decision-making information remained severely underreported. Only 43 percent of institutions disclosed officers’ powers and functions, while just 36 percent provided details on employee remunerations. Budgetary information was available in only 29 percent of cases, and transparency regarding subsidies, concessions, and permit recipients was even lower, with just two to three percent of public bodies sharing such details. Additionally, 63 percent of official websites lacked contact information for Public Information Officers (PIOs).
FAFEN will soon publish recommendations to improve the PTRIA 2013, urging the Punjab government to enhance its focus on digital transparency. With over 111 million internet users in Pakistan, government institutions must leverage technology to proactively share authentic, accessible, and comprehensive information with the public.
