Process and Specimen of Filling Information Requests and Complaints under RTI Laws

7 Steps for Obtaining Public Information from Government Departments under RTI Laws in Pakistan

1. Clearly describe the required information on plain paper with reference to any of the applicable RTI law (RAI Act 2017, KP &RTI Act 2013, Punjab T&RTI Act 2013, Sindh T&RTI Act 2016, Balochistan Right to Information Act, 2021)
2. Identify the public body, address to public information officer (PIO) or Head of the Department while writing information request.
3. Submitting information request is free of cost and citizens are not bound to provide reason of request information.
4. Submit/post information request (attached copy CNIC) through mail, fax or email to the PIO of concerned public body.
5. PIO will send the acknowledgment receipt and provide requested information within 10-15 working days (time limit of responding is prescribed in each RTI law).
6. Information required to protect the life or liberty of any individual will be provided within 2-3 working days (time limit of responding is prescribed in each RTI law).
7. In case of incomplete, unsatisfactory response, mute, oral or written refusal; citizens have a right to lodge complaint in independent appellate forum i.e Information Commission. The appellate body will resolve the case within 30-60 days (time limit  is prescribed in each RTI law)