Right to Information Request (Pakistan)

A Right to Information Request in Pakistan sets out the particulars the recipient needs to deal with the request, in a structured and reviewable form.

Article 19-A of the Constitution of Pakistan 1973, inserted by the Eighteenth Amendment in 2010, declares that every citizen shall have the right to have access to information in all matters of public importance subject to regulation and reasonable restrictions imposed by law. This constitutional right elevated transparency from a policy goal to a fundamental right, enforceable through the High Courts of the respective provinces under Article 199 of the Constitution.

The Right of Access to Information Act 2017 applies to all public bodies under federal jurisdiction — including federal ministries, divisions, attached departments, autonomous bodies, corporations, regulatory authorities such as the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), and federally chartered universities. The Act defines "information" broadly to include any record, document, data, minutes, e-mail, advice, press release, circular, order, logbook, contract, report, or any other material — regardless of physical form — held by or under the control of a public body.

A federal RTI request under the Right of Access to Information Act 2017 must be addressed to the designated Public Information Officer (PIO) of the relevant public body. Every public body is required to designate a PIO under Section 6 of the Act. The PIO must respond to the request within 14 working days of receipt (Section 7), or within 30 working days where the information is voluminous or requires consultation with a third party. Refusal of a request must be accompanied by a written statement of reasons citing the specific exemption under Section 14 of the Act — which exempts information relating to national security and defence, personal privacy, trade secrets, information received in confidence from foreign governments, and cabinet proceedings.

The Pakistan Information Commission (PIC), established under Section 17 of the Right of Access to Information Act 2017, is the appellate and oversight body for federal RTI matters. A requester dissatisfied with the PIO's response or non-response may file a complaint with the PIC within 30 days. The PIC has powers to order disclosure, impose penalties on defaulting PIOs, and publish non-compliance findings. The PIC is headquartered in Islamabad and accepts complaints in person, by post, or online through its official portal.

A Right to Information Request in Pakistan is needed whenever a citizen, journalist, researcher, civil society organisation, or business entity wants to obtain records or information held by a government body and is entitled to do so under the Right of Access to Information Act 2017 or applicable provincial RTI legislation.

A Right to Information Request is needed when a citizen wants to inspect or obtain copies of government contracts, procurement records, or tender documents from a federal ministry — such as the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Communications, or the Ministry of Energy — to verify how public funds have been spent or whether competitive bidding procedures under the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) Rules 2004 were followed.

A Right to Information Request is required when a journalist or investigative reporter needs official data — crime statistics from the relevant Inspector General of Police, environmental monitoring reports from the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (PEPA) established under the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997, or financial statements of a public-sector enterprise regulated by the SECP or the Ministry of Privatisation — for publication in a newspaper or broadcast on a television channel.

A Right to Information Request is needed when a business or contractor wants to obtain information about a regulatory decision affecting their operations — such as a NEPRA tariff determination, a PTA spectrum allocation decision, or an OGRA pipeline approval — to assess whether the decision was made in accordance with statutory procedures and whether grounds for review or appeal under the relevant regulatory statute exist.

A Right to Information Request is required when an individual wants to obtain copies of their own records held by a government body — medical records from a public hospital, educational records from a public university, employment records from a government department, or tax assessments from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) — to which they are entitled under the Right of Access to Information Act 2017 and the constitutional protection of personal privacy.

A Right to Information Request is needed when a civil society organisation conducting research on public health, education, poverty, or governance wants to obtain statistical data, policy documents, or programme reports from federal or provincial bodies — such as the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the Ministry of National Health Services, or the Higher Education Commission (HEC) — to inform advocacy, litigation, or public reporting.

A valid Right to Information Request in Pakistan under the Right of Access to Information Act 2017 and provincial RTI Acts must contain the following essential elements to be properly processed by the designated Public Information Officer.

Applicant Identification: Full name of the applicant, NADRA CNIC number (13-digit format: XXXXX-XXXXXXX-X), postal address, email address, and contact phone number. Under Section 5 of the Right of Access to Information Act 2017, an applicant is not required to give reasons for the request, but providing contact details is necessary for the PIO to respond within the statutory 14-working-day deadline.

Public Body Addressed: The full name and address of the public body to which the request is directed, and the name and designation of the Public Information Officer (PIO) if known. Addressing the request to the correct PIO confirms prompt routing — misdirected requests may delay the statutory timeline under Section 7 of the Act.

Description of Information Requested: A clear, specific description of the records or information sought — including document type (contract, report, minutes, data), subject matter, relevant dates or reference numbers, and the specific ministry, division, or department that generated or holds the information. Vague or overly broad requests may be partially refused under Section 14 exemptions; a precise request reduces the risk of refusal.

Format of Information Requested: Whether the applicant wants a photocopy, certified copy, electronic copy (PDF via email), inspection in person, or summary. Under Section 10 of the Right of Access to Information Act 2017, the applicant may choose the format and the public body must provide information in that format if reasonably practicable.

Fee Payment: Under Section 11 of the Right of Access to Information Act 2017, a public body may charge a reasonable fee for providing information — typically the cost of reproduction (photocopying at PKR 2 per page) and postage. The request should acknowledge willingness to pay the applicable fee or request a fee waiver if the information is sought in the public interest by a journalist, researcher, or NGO.

Statutory Deadline Reference: The request should cite Section 7 of the Right of Access to Information Act 2017, which requires the PIO to respond within 14 working days, and state that failure to respond within this period will be treated as a deemed refusal entitling the applicant to file a complaint with the Pakistan Information Commission (PIC) under Section 16 of the Act.

Appeal Rights Statement: A paragraph noting that if the request is refused, the applicant will exercise the right of internal appeal to the head of the public body under Section 15 of the Act within 30 days, and thereafter file a complaint with the Pakistan Information Commission (PIC) or the relevant provincial Information Commission (Punjab Information Commission, KPK Information Commission, or Sindh Information Commission) if the internal appeal fails.

Exemption Acknowledgement: Where the applicant anticipates that the public body may invoke an exemption under Section 14 of the Right of Access to Information Act 2017, the request should note that any exemption must be applied narrowly, that severability applies (non-exempt portions must be disclosed even if some portions are exempt), and that the public interest in disclosure must be weighed against any harm from disclosure.

Forms-legal.com provides this Right to Information Request (Pakistan) template reflecting the requirements of the Right of Access to Information Act 2017, Article 19-A of the Constitution of Pakistan 1973, and provincial RTI legislation. Citizens seeking information on sensitive matters — national security, ongoing investigations, or personal data of third parties — should obtain guidance from a qualified Advocate or a civil society organisation specialising in RTI advocacy before filing the request.