RTI: A Tool for Social Development, Says KPIC Deputy Director
Peshawar: The Right to Information (RTI) is a powerful tool that ensures social development by enhancing the quality of life for all citizens and enabling them to achieve their full potential. This was highlighted by Syed Saadat Jahan, Deputy Director of Communication at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Commission (KPIC), during a lecture on RTI at the ‘Youth Leadership Program on Civic Engagement and Governance,’ organized by the Centre for Governance and Public Accountability (CGPA) on Thursday.
Addressing the participants, selected youth from across the province, including the Newly Merged Districts (NMDs), Mr. Jahan emphasized the role of RTI in promoting good governance and removing barriers that hinder individuals from pursuing their aspirations with confidence and dignity. He stressed that RTI empowers citizens by holding public institutions accountable, ensuring transparency, and improving governance practices.
“The institutions across the province that operate with public funds are answerable to the citizens under the RTI Act,” Mr. Jahan explained. He also elaborated on the process of filing an RTI request with public bodies, noting that each public entity has a designated Public Information Officer (PIO) to handle these requests.
Furthermore, Mr. Jahan pointed out that if a public body fails to provide the requested information within the legally stipulated time frame, citizens have the right to file a complaint with the KPIC.
