LAHORE: The Punjab government must appoint information commissioners whose posts have been vacant since March 2017.

This was demanded by participants and speakers at a session on `Right to information` by Pildat with the Punjab Information Commission.

Pildat`s Aasiya Riaz said the Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act of 2013 was important for transparency and accountability of public bodies.

However, she said, the law had not been effectivelyutilised.ShesaidPildattrained public information officers, LG officials, civil society activists, journalists, minorities and women in Lodhran and Bahawalpur districts about the law. In all, 80 PIOs and 200 other people were trained.

Journalist Mujibur Rehman Shami suggested an amendment to Punjab RTI laws that ensure that information commissioners continue their posts until their successors are appointed. He demanded the Punjab government increase funds for the PIC. He also suggested that media houses hold workshops for their staff on how to invoke RTI lawsfor fact-based reporting.

PIC Deputy Director Naeem Malik said the information act was functional even though info commissioners posts were vacant. He said the PIC had received 4,000 applications by information seekers, all of which, except 400, were resolved.

Former KP information commissioner Prof Kalimullah said India had the strongest track record in leading and implementing RTI legislation, which began in 1997. This happened because of a fierce grassroots movement by peasants and farmers Mazdoor Kisan Shal(ti Sangathan which demanded freedom of information and transparency and linked it to their `right to live` and now their CSOs and media played a very active role in promoting this right.

Former information commissioner Ahmed Raza Tahir said during his tenure at the PIC, the government employees withholding information despite receiving information requests had been fined for not providing information regardless of their scale and designation. He urged PIOs to provide information to requesters without asking them questions. Reporter