Balochistan Public Bodies Disclose 48% of Legally-Required Information: FAFEN

ISLAMABAD: Public bodies in Balochistan province proactively disclose an average of 48 percent of the information required under the Balochistan Right to Information (BRTI) Act, 2021, says the latest transparency assessment report released by the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

The assessment is part of FAFEN’s Countering Disinformation through Information campaign, which underscores the importance of proactive disclosures by the public authorities in strengthening institutional transparency and countering mis- and disinformation.

The assessment reviewed 66 public bodies in Balochistan province, including 39 Secretariat Departments, 12 Attached Departments, and 15 Autonomous Bodies, against the proactive disclosure requirements prescribed under Section 5 of the BRTI Act. The law mandates proactive disclosure of nine categories of information about a public body. It also emphasizes the publication of updated information in accessible formats, including over the internet.

Overall, Autonomous Bodies performed relatively better, disclosing, on average, 59 percent of the required information, followed by Attached Departments at 46 percent, while Secretariat Departments trailed at 44 percent.

Among the Secretariat Departments, the Agriculture and Cooperatives, Information, Planning and Development, and Urban Planning and Development Departments emerged as most transparent, with each disclosing 70 percent of the required information. Among attached departments, the Gwadar Development Authority and Provincial Disaster Management Authority led with 60 percent compliance. Among Autonomous Bodies, the Balochistan Education and Endowment Fund and the University of Turbat disclosed 80 percent of the required information.

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Notwithstanding these high-performing public bodies, the assessment found widespread gaps in compliance. A large number of public bodies disclosed only 40–50 percent of the required information, while several public bodies fell even further behind, disclosing as little as 10–30 percent of the information.

Basic organizational information, such as functions, duties, and institutional structure, was the most widely available information across nine categories, disclosed by 98 percent of public bodies. Legal frameworks governing the operations of public bodies were available on 80 percent of assessed websites, while 73 percent disclosed information on public services and service delivery conditions.

Around 21 percent of public bodies published some budget-related information, including proposed or actual expenditures. Information on subsidy or benefit programs was disclosed by 15 percent of public bodies, while two percent of public bodies provided some details on recipients of concessions, permits, licenses, or authorizations. Nearly six percent provided guidance on submitting information requests or disclosed the contact details of Public Information Officers (PIOs). Moreover, 15 percent of public bodies published annual reports on compliance with the BRTI Act, which is a mandatory requirement under Section 5(2) of the Act.

FAFEN urges the provincial government institutions to leverage technology to proactively share authentic information in order to counter digital disinformation. It will make public its recommendations for improvements in the BRTI Act 2021 that are essential to improve the government’s focus on transparency.