Balochistan Set to Establish Information Commission Soon
The long-awaited establishment of the Balochistan Information Commission is expected to be announced on or before September 28, 2024, coinciding with the International Right to Know Day. This development comes more than three years after the passage of the Balochistan Right to Information Act, 2021.
The Balochistan Right to Information Act was approved by the provincial assembly on February 1, 2021, and received the governor’s assent on February 15, 2021. The Act mandates the provincial government to appoint members to the Information Commission within 180 days of the law’s commencement, as stipulated in Section 18(1). However, despite this legal obligation, the Commission’s formation has been delayed for over three years.
To facilitate the Commission’s launch, the Balochistan Information Department, in collaboration with a non-governmental organization, has established a website. Although currently hosted on a private domain, the process to secure an official government domain (.gov.pk) is underway. Once the official domain is acquired, the nearly completed website will be transferred to the new platform.
On September 11, 2024, a meeting took place between Balochistan’s Secretary of Information, Imran Khan, and the Chairperson of the Commission on the Status of Women, Fouzia Shaheen. According to sources, the meeting focused on the establishment of the Balochistan Information Commission, following directives from the Chief Minister of Balochistan. The announcement of the Commission is expected as part of the International Right to Know Day celebrations.
