Public Information Officers
Citizens can reach out to the Public Information Officer to submit RTI requests under the Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act 2013. Requests may be submitted in person, by post, or via phone during official working hours.
What is RTI?
Under Article 19-A of the Constitution, RTI (Right to Information) is a fundamental right of every citizen of Pakistan to have the right to access information in all matters of public importance, subject to regulation and reasonable restrictions imposed by law.
A citizen, in addition to a government department, can also have access to information of a private body which is substantially financed by the government. RTI is based upon the principle that citizens, as taxpayers, are the rightful owners of public information.
RTI boosts transparency, accountability, elimination of corruption, and improvement of public service delivery.
Legal Framework
The Government of Punjab has implemented a series of measures to strengthen transparent service delivery and citizen satisfaction. The Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act 2013 is part of the larger agenda to promote e-governance and spread evidence-based information — from the Government as custodians of information to the citizens, its rightful owners.
The RTI Act makes it mandatory for Punjab public authorities to provide stipulated government-held information to the public. The recently launched Punjab Public Management Reform Program is another stride towards the goal of proliferating the province with horizontal and vertical transparent governance.
How RTI Can Help You?
The information obtained through RTI empowers citizens to actively participate in governance and hold public officials accountable. Specifically, RTI enables citizens to:
Hold public officials accountable for their actions and decisions.
Comment upon the performance of public servants and government departments.
Conduct surveys and research on the basis of data and records received through RTI requests.
Identify and indicate gaps and weaknesses within public bodies, driving improvements in service delivery.
RTI also helps public officials themselves by making it easier for them to carry out their duties more efficiently and transparently, as it encourages systematic record-keeping and open communication.
Pro-Active Disclosure
The Government also benefits from RTI by becoming aware of gaps and weaknesses of public bodies. The public can access information in two ways:
Reactive Disclosure
A citizen submits a formal request for specific information and the public authority is obligated to provide it within the stipulated timeframe.
Pro-Active Disclosure
Information is made available to citizens without them needing to submit any request — the public authority publishes it voluntarily and proactively.
Under the Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act 2013, PHA Bahawalpur is committed to proactively disclosing information about its operations, budgets, plans, and activities to promote a culture of openness and citizen engagement.
For further guidance on submitting an RTI request or to learn about your rights under the Act, you may contact our Public Information Officer directly or visit the Punjab RTI Portal.