The Senate Secretariat in Islamabad has issued a detailed Standard Operating Procedure to manage Right to Information applications under the Right of Access to Information Act, 2017, aiming to institutionalize transparency and consistent access to public records.
The SOP clarifies that access to information is a fundamental right under Article 19A and international law, and it applies to all federal public bodies with designated Public Information Officers (PIOs) tasked to receive, process and deliver information. Requests may be submitted in writing in person, by post, email, fax or through an online form, may include up to five questions, and do not require applicants to state reasons for seeking information.
On receipt, each RTI application must be acknowledged and entered into a central registry that is tracked manually and digitally. Records of fees paid, any exemptions applied and reasons for partial or full denials are to be maintained, and certified copies issued where applicable. Applicants are required to provide full identification details including name, CNIC, profession, contact information and address, and to submit an undertaking that the information will be used for personal purposes and not resold or shared without permission.
Scrutiny of applications is required within three working days, after which the PIO either accepts the request subject to the prescribed fee or seeks approval from the Secretary or Chairman of the Senate to refuse under Section 7 of the Act. Once approval for disclosure is secured, the PIO must deliver the information within one day accompanied by a certified declaration of authenticity. In cases that require extensive research, the response period may be extended by up to ten days, while requests affecting life or liberty are prioritised and responded to within three working days.
The SOP establishes a formal appeal route to the Pakistan Information Commission for applicants dissatisfied with responses; the Commission may summon PIOs and require justification for refusals or partial disclosures. The Secretariat’s litigation and HRM departments are assigned to monitor compliance and pursue remedies to avoid contempt proceedings when necessary. The SOP also mandates proactive publication of information on the Senate website and transmission of requests to relevant departments or cells within five days, with final approval from the Secretary or Chairman expected within two days of record receipt.
By codifying processes, response timelines and accountability measures, the SOP seeks to reduce delays, curb arbitrary refusals and harmonise handling of Right to Information requests across federal bodies, reinforcing public confidence in parliamentary transparency and administrative consistency.
