One Year On, PIC Fails to Enforce Order to Remove MOFA’s Controversial RTI Requirements
Nearly a year has passed since the Pakistan Information Commission (PIC) directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) to remove its controversial procedure for handling Right to Information (RTI) requests from its website. Yet, the directive remains unimplemented, shedding light on the persistent gaps in the enforcement of Pakistan’s Right to Information law, which was meant to promote transparency and accountability in the government.
On August 30, 2024, it was revealed that MOFA continues to demand citizens submit an affidavit on stamp paper, a processing fee, and signatures of two witnesses in order to request information. These additional requirements stand in direct contradiction to the provisions outlined in the Right of Access to Information Act, 2017, particularly Sections 11(3) and 11(4). The law clearly states that no extra conditions or unjustified restrictions should impede citizens’ access to public records.
Despite this, as of August 2025, MOFA’s official website still lists these requirements, openly flouting both the law and the PIC’s ruling. This is not just a legal violation but also a significant blow to the Act’s purpose of ensuring transparency in public offices. Citizens and civil society activists now face a stark question: if ministries like MOFA can ignore directives from the Pakistan Information Commission, what power does the Commission truly have to enforce the law?
RTI campaigner ****, speaking on the issue, expressed concern about the broader implications: “The Commission’s silence on its own unenforced orders signals institutional weakness. It makes citizens believe the law is ornamental rather than functional.”
The situation with MOFA is part of a larger problem, one that puts Pakistan’s transparency law at risk. The Right to Information Act, 2017, initially hailed as a groundbreaking piece of legislation, now seems in danger of being hollowed out due to weak enforcement mechanisms. The law’s effectiveness is jeopardized unless the PIC begins to assert its authority, and the government ensures that appointments within the Commission and related bodies are made on merit rather than political considerations.
For those who rely on RTI to hold the government accountable, this failure to act sends a chilling message: even when citizens win a ruling, there is no guarantee that the law will be enforced.
The requirements listed on MOFA’s website are cumbersome and costly. Citizens are expected to submit their requests on stamp paper worth PKR 100. They must use a specific form prescribed by the ministry, which can only be obtained from the MOFA website. This form, along with an advance copy, must then be sent by post to the Assistant Director (Spokesperson’s Office).
MOFA also limits the number of questions that can be included in each request, capping it at five. Any additional questions are treated as separate requests, increasing the paperwork burden. Once the request is acknowledged, the ministry instructs applicants to pay a PKR 500 processing fee at any branch of the National Bank of Pakistan. After paying, applicants must send the original paid challan, along with the application form, via post, and send an advance copy by email. Civil society activists have vehemently criticized these restrictions, condemning them as an infringement on citizens’ rights. They point out that these procedures violate Section 4 of the Right of Access to Information Rules, 2019, which states that citizens can apply for information using either plain paper or a prescribed application form, without additional costs or burdensome formalities.
Activists are now calling for action from the Pakistan Information Commission to remove these unlawful requirements. They stress the importance of upholding citizens’ fundamental right to access information, something that has been compromised by the continuing inaction. In conclusion, the ongoing failure to implement the PIC’s ruling against MOFA’s restrictive procedures has left citizens frustrated and disillusioned.