Provincial institutions are yet to publish their administrative, functional and financial information on their websites
KARACHI:
Eight years have passed since the Sindh Assembly approved the Sindh Transparency and Right to Information Act 2016, but most government departments in the province have still not implemented it effectively.
According to Section 6 of the Act, all public institutions working under the provincial government are required to provide information on their administrative structure, functions and financial affairs through their official websites. The purpose of the law was to ensure transparency and give citizens easy access to public information. However, many departments have failed to comply with these requirements and even the Sindh Assembly has not fully implemented the law it passed.
Earlier this year, the Sindh Assembly hosted a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association conference and spent significant public funds, but the expenditure details have not been published on its website. The website also lacks information on the number of assembly workers and their annual costs, as well as the millions of rupees paid to members each year as salaries and allowances.
A similar situation exists in many other public authorities. According to the law, public bodies must keep their websites regularly updated with details of their responsibilities, regulations, budgets and expenses. However, a review of several departments’ websites shows that updates are either rare or completely absent.
Some of the largest departments in the province include the Local Government Department, the Health Department and the Education Department. The local authority website has recently displayed a “maintenance work” notice for several days. The Municipal Board’s website was last updated on 13 December 2024, while the National Board of Health’s website often does not open. The Colleges Department’s website lists its latest announcement as dated August 8, 2025, indicating a lack of regular updates.
The law also allows citizens to directly request information from public authorities. However, many people who tried to obtain information this way faced delays or did not get the information they wanted. As a result, citizens often have to file complaints with the Sindh Information Commission.
According to Saleem Khan, commissioner of the Sindh Information Commission, more than 1,600 complaints have been lodged with the commission against various departments since 2023. Out of these, approximately 1,500 complaints have been resolved. Under the law, the applicant can file a complaint with the commission if a government department fails to provide information within the specified time frame. The commission then contacts the relevant department, obtains the information and provides it to the applicant.
Despite this mechanism, many people become discouraged after failing to receive information and choose not to pursue the matter further. For example, Abdul Ahad Qureshi, a resident of Karachi, claimed that he requested information from the Ministry of Education regarding a government school in his area but did not receive a response. “Due to my busy schedule, I do not have time to approach the commission or attend hearings,” Qureshi said.
Meanwhile, the Sindh Information Commission has written to all provincial government departments asking them to implement Section 6 of the Act. The Commission has also issued public notices instructing departments to make relevant information available on their websites and warning that action may be taken if they do not comply.
The local lawyer Dr. Murtaza Khuhro has also filed petitions in the Sindh High Court challenging the non-implementation of the law and hearings are currently underway. “The Sindh government has shown little seriousness in enforcing the law. The law called for the establishment of Sindh Information Commission offices in every district of the province, but none have been set up so far,” said Dr. Khoro.
“Since the third week of February, the post of Chief Information Commissioner has been vacant, further reflecting the government’s lack of commitment in implementing the Transparency Act,” he added.
