B A H A W A L P U R : Federal Minister for E ducation and Professional Training Baleeghur Rehman has underlined the need for effective implementation of the right to information (RTI) law in the provinces to strengthen democratic institutions in the country.

He was presiding over the inaugural ceremony to launch the project of `Enhancing the empowerment of women and minorities of South Punjab in two districts of Bahawalpur and Lodhran` held at Ghotvi Hall of the Islamia University Bahawalpur here on Saturday under the auspices of Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (Pildat).

The project is being implemented with the support of United States Agency for International Development in collaboration with the Punjab Information Commission.

The federal minister welcomed the introduction of the RTI law by the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments. He stressed the need to provide awareness particularly to women and the minorities about theirrights.

He welcomed the Pildat`s move of launching the project which would guide the people as to how they could exercise their right to approach the government or private institutions for seeking the required information.

He expressed the hope that awareness to the people particularly women and minorities would also lead to strengthening of democratic institutions.

He urged Pildat to also arrange training of officials of the government and private institutions to provide the requisite information to the people.

He opined that women parliamentarians should also be made part of the drive as MPs also needed capacity building.

Earlier, Pildat President Ahmad Belal Mehboob in his welcome address explained the objectives of the project and said the institute focused on political and public policy researchandhadbeentrying to strengthen democratic institutions in Pakistan since 2001.

Talking to Dawn, the minister [referring to the SC verdict] said political matters should not be taken to courts and should be decided through ballots.