A recent assessment by Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) regarding the digital transparency of websites of Pakistan’s four provincial Chief Minister (CM) Secretariats has revealed a significant disparity in how they share or make information available for the public.

The review measured these websites against proactive disclosure requirements, which is a legal obligation under provincial Right to Information (RTI) laws to share data without being asked. According to FAFEN assessment, Sindh CM Secretariat leads the way, meeting 80 percent of proactive disclosure requirements under Sindh Transparency and RTI Act 2016. It is followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) at 42 percent and Balochistan at 30 percent. Punjab trails significantly behind disclosing only 23 percent of the mandated information under its RTI law. It is pertinent to mention here that Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act 2013 does not require digital disclosures, unlike RTI laws at federal level and in other provinces. The websites’ assessment was conducted during 2025.

What is Proactive Disclosure in the context of Right to Information Laws?

In simple terms, proactive disclosure means that a government department shouldn’t wait for a citizen to file a formal request for some information. Instead, they are legally obligated to publish these openly on their websites.

While RTI laws vary slightly by province, the legislation in Sindh, KP, and at the Federal level explicitly mandates that this information must be kept up-to-date online. This includes: organizational structure and personnel details, including staff duties, salaries, and contact information for Public Information Officers. They are required to maintain operational transparency by publishing the legal framework, service norms, and decision-making processes that govern their functions. Finally, financial accountability is mandated through the disclosure of budgets, actual expenditures, and details regarding any subsidies, permits, or concessions granted to the public.