Govt urged to implement access to information laws.

LAKKI MARWAT -- Speakers at a seminar on Tuesday asked the federal and provincial government to implement access to Information laws with true spirit and remove obstacles in this regard to promote budget transparency and accountability in the country. The seminar was organised by the Citizens' Network for Budget accountability (CNBa) in collaboration with the Community Development organisation and Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) in lakki Marwat city. The speakers included CDo representative Inayatullah khan, advocate Zafrullah khan and a local body member eng latifullah khan. highlighting the state of budget transparency in Pakistan, the speakers said that the CPDI in its recent report had pointed out shortcomings in the budgeting process both at federal and provincial level. 'The budget proposals should be widely discussed with civic groups, government agencies and other stakeholders before being passed from the legislature,' they maintained.

They underlined the need for giving a legal protection to the citizens' participation in the budgeting process, saying that...