Govt Departments Are Failing to Disclose Public Information: Report

For context, the administration departments throughout Pakistan are falling short of their legal obligations to proactively disclose public information, with compliance ranging from 28 percent in Balochistan to 59 percent in Punjab, according to a Transparency International Pakistan report published ahead of.

Key points

• The Climate Change, Forestry, Environment and Wildlife Department had the highest score at 72 percent, followed by the Communication and Works Department at 70 percent.
• The Bureau of Statistics, Planning and Development Department led with 64 percent, followed by the Finance Department at 58 percent.
• At the lower end, the Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs both recorded 22 percent, placing them in the report's minimal compliance category.
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• The federal administration recorded an overall compliance score of 47 percent throughout 14 ministries and departments.

In practice, the 2026 Right to Information in Practice assessment reviewed the official websites of 98 federal and provincial administration departments against disclosure requirements under the relevant right to information laws.

In practice, the assessment discovered Punjab had the highest overall compliance at 59 percent, followed by the federal administration at 47 percent, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at 41 percent, Sindh at 31 percent and Balochistan at 28 percent.

For context, the report discovered budget and expenditure information to be among the weakest areas of disclosure throughout jurisdictions. Information regarding Public Information Officers was additionally poorly disclosed in a number of areas, limiting citizens' ability to identify whom to contact when information is not available online. The report notes budget information scored below 40 percent throughout jurisdictions. PTA Defends Jazz in Rs. 6.58 Billion Overcharging Case.

Meanwhile, the federal administration recorded an overall compliance score of 47 percent throughout 14 ministries and departments. The Ministry of Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs had the highest score at 83 percent, followed by the Ministry of Law and Justice at 75 percent. While the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination scored 67 percent, the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives scored 72 percent.

At the lower end, the Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs both recorded 22 percent, placing them in the report's minimal compliance category. While the Ministry of Energy recorded 33 percent, the Ministry of Communications and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting each scored 31 percent.

Punjab recorded the highest provincial compliance at 59 percent throughout 18 departments. While the Industries, Commerce and Investment Department and Irrigation Department each scored 73 percent, the Environment Protection and Climate Change Department led with 83 percent. The Health Department had the lowest score in Punjab at 29 percent, followed by the Board of Revenue at 35 percent. Govt Thinks It Has Done Enough to Satisfy IMF.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recorded 41 percent throughout 22 departments. The Climate Change, Forestry, Environment and Wildlife Department had the highest score at 72 percent, followed by the Communication and Works Department at 70 percent. The Directorate of Industries and Commerce and Labour Department recorded the lowest scores at 7 percent each.

Sindh recorded 31 percent throughout 25 departments. The Bureau of Statistics, Planning and Development Department led with 64 percent, followed by the Finance Department at 58 percent. While the Sindh Governor House scored 12 percent, the Industries and Commerce Department recorded the lowest score at 11 percent.

Balochistan had the lowest overall compliance at 28 percent throughout 19 departments. The Planning and Development Department scored the highest at 58 percent, followed by the Local Administration and Rural Development Department at 53 percent.

While four departments, including Climate Change and Environment, Irrigation, Law and Parliamentary Affairs, and Labour and Manpower, scored just 3 percent, the Finance and Industries and Commerce departments each scored 6 percent. The websites of the Transport Department and Board of Revenue were inaccessible and were therefore not scored.

In practice, the report recommends standardized formats for proactive disclosure, regular training and institutional backing for Public Information Officers, and stronger online publication of budgets and expenditures. It additionally calls for mandatory publication of PIO names and contact details, disclosure of decision-making processes and public consultation opportunities, and a dedicated Right to Information section on every administration department's website. Stay Connected with ProPakistani.

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Taken together, the developments around govt Departments Are Failing to Disclose Public Information: Report point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.