Public sector institutions in Balochistan have shown gradual progress in proactive disclosure of information, with public bodies publishing an average of 48 per cent of the information mandated under the Balochistan Right to Information (BRTI) Act, 2021, according to a latest transparency assessment released by the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).
The assessment, conducted under FAFEN’s Countering Disinformation through Information Campaign, evaluates how effectively public authorities are meeting their legal obligations to proactively share information in order to strengthen transparency and counter mis- and disinformation.
Scope of the Assessment
FAFEN reviewed the websites and publicly available information of 66 public bodies in Balochistan, including 39 secretariat departments, 12 attached departments, and 15 autonomous bodies. The institutions were assessed against the proactive disclosure obligations outlined in Section 5 of the BRTI Act.
The law requires public bodies to proactively publish nine categories of information, and to ensure that the information is updated, accessible, and available in user-friendly formats, including through official websites.
Comparative Performance of Public Bodies
According to the findings, autonomous bodies demonstrated relatively stronger compliance, disclosing an average of 59pc of the required information. Attached departments followed with 46pc compliance, while secretariat departments trailed at 44pc.
Among the secretariat departments, the Agriculture and Cooperatives Department, Information Department, Planning and Development Department, and Urban Planning and Development Department emerged as the most transparent, each disclosing 70pc of the required information.
In the category of attached departments, the Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) led with 60pc compliance.
Among autonomous bodies, the Balochistan Education and Endowment Fund and the University of Turbat recorded the highest level of transparency, each disclosing 80pc of the required information.
Gaps in Compliance Persist
Despite these positive indicators, the assessment found that overall compliance remains uneven across the province.
A large number of public bodies disclosed only 40–50pc of the mandated information, while several institutions lagged significantly behind, disclosing as little as 10–30pc. FAFEN noted that inconsistent disclosure practices continue to undermine the spirit of the RTI law.
Nature of Information Disclosed
The assessment revealed that basic organisational information — including institutional functions, duties, and organisational structures — was the most widely disclosed category, available on 98pc of assessed websites.
Other categories showed mixed compliance:
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80pc of public bodies disclosed legal frameworks governing their operations
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73pc published information on public services and service delivery conditions
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Only 21pc provided some budget-related information, such as proposed or actual expenditures
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Information on subsidy or benefit programmes was disclosed by 15pc of public bodies
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Merely 2pc shared details regarding recipients of concessions, permits, licences, or authorisations
Transparency and Public Accountability
FAFEN emphasised that while the findings indicate gradual improvement in proactive disclosures, sustained efforts are required to achieve full compliance with the BRTI Act. Comprehensive and regular publication of information, the report noted, is essential for enhancing public accountability, improving governance, and countering disinformation.
The organisation urged provincial authorities to strengthen monitoring mechanisms, ensure timely updates, and standardise disclosure practices across departments to fully realise the objectives of the right to information law.
