Consultative session: Feedback received on RTI Act implementation

PESHAWAR: A consultative session was arranged on Tuesday to gather feedback from citizens and public information officers on the implementation of the Right To Information Act.The KP Information Commission marked International Right to Know Day by honoring contributions to the promotion of transparency and accountability through the RTI Act.

Awards were distributed to individuals who have made use of the RTI Act in the public interest. A special event was held in collaboration with the non-governmental organizations Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives and the Centre for Governance and Public Accountability.

The awards were presented in three categories: Dr Abdul Qayyum Khan, Assistant Director of the Elementary and Secondary Education Department, received the award for Best Public Officer.

Journalist Musarratullah Jan was recognized for his efforts in reporting, while Ahmed Ilyas, a journalist and resident of Hangu, was awarded in the citizen category for his active use of the RTI law to promote transparency.

The ceremony “Reflecting on Successes and Shaping the Future,” was held in Peshawar and attended by a number of participants, including Chief Commissioner of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Commission Farah Hamid Khan, former commissioners, RTS Commission officials, public information officers from various government departments, journalists, and students.

Farah Hamid Khan emphasized the importance of citizen participation in governance. “The real owners of the information held by institutions are the people,” she said, adding “Through the RTI Act, citizens can access true information and play a critical role in ensuring institutional transparency.”