OUR STAFF REPORTER LAHORE The Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan has asked the Punjab government to legislate draft for right to information in the Punjab without further delay. The Centre and other provinces including Balochistan and Sindh have already passed the Information Freedom Act, said CRCP Secretary General Abrar Hafeez, during a press conference here at the Press Club. He told the media persons that the Commission had submitted its RTI full draft to the provincial government to ensure transparency and accountability for the good governance in government departments. It is a matter of deep concern that the province which boasts of less corruption and a transparent governance has no RTI legislation, whereas, provinces of Sindh and Balochistan as well as the federal government have this legislation in place since long, he added. While demanding the immediate introduction of RTI legislation in the Punjab, CRCP Secretary General urged the government to do away with the shortcomings of the already existing Freedom of Information Ordinance, 2002 at the Federal and Balochistan Freedom of Information Act, 2005 and Sindh Freedom of Information Act, 2006. He said the existing legislation at federal and provincial levels were quite identical in nature and had narrowed and limited the definitions of the Public Records. Moreover, it had included too many exceptions and exemptions to limit the peoples right to know held by the Government official and public authorities, he added. He said the existing legislation at the federal level and in two provinces also failed to lay down an elaborate mechanism for awarding punishments to the government officials responsible for deliberately withholding or distorting information requested by the people. In addition, the powers of the Ombudsman regarding the redress for complaints against the public officials on withholding information are quite nominal and toothless. He said that the CRCP impressed upon the government of the Punjab to expeditiously legislate RTI law by doing away with the short comings of the existing federal and provincial legislation and in line with the best regional and international practices. He said that the CRCP had been engaged with the Punjab government by extending technical assistance on drafting RTI legislation and rules of business. He urged upon other CSOs and concerned citizens to join hands for a comprehensive and effective legislation in the Punjab.