ISLAMABAD: The Right of Access to Information Bill, 2017 was presented before the Senate on Monday.
Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani referred the bill, introduced by Minister of State for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb, to the standing committee concerned for further deliberations.
The bill has been introduced to ensure that citizens of Pakistan have the fullest possible access to public records. It is intended to promote a two-way flow of information – from government to the people and vice versa for strengthening and safeguarding the public’s right to know. It is especially important in the backdrop of Article 19-A of the constitution which explicitly recognizes right to information as a fundamental human right. The bill recognizes that it is an inalienable birth right of an individual and is universally recognized in a democratic dispensation. Access to information is an essential pre-requisite to the people’s realisation of their ideals of good and transparent governance.
Senate unanimously approved the draft Companies Bill, 2017. In February, the National Assembly had passed the bill and referred it to the Senate standing committee on finance, revenue, statistics, economic affairs and privatisation for consideration.
The major changes to the draft approved by the parliament include various measures to ensure ease of doing business for investors, exemption from various regulatory requirements for small-scale businesses, streamlining the provisions for beneficial ownership of companies, allowing a simple one-page memorandum of association while allowing all permissible business activities, measures to improve corporate governance practices including representation of female directors on the boards of public interest companies, representation of disabled persons in such companies, measures for enhanced transparency and timely disclosures for protection of stakeholders’ interests, etc.
Meanwhile, the Upper House passed a unanimous resolution strongly condemning the barbaric and brutal attack on the convoy of Deputy Chairman Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri in Mastung.
The resolution moved by Senator Talha Mahmood expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives in the incident. The resolution also prayed for early recovery of those injured in the attack. It said that such cowardly acts cannot shake the determination of the nation against terrorism.
The House passed another unanimous resolution expressing deep grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Director Staff Senate Secretariat Iftikhar Mughal in the terrorist attack. The resolution moved by Leader of the House Raja Zafarul Haq expressed heartfelt grief and offered condolences to the bereaved family. At the outset, the House also offered prayers for those martyred in terrorist attacks in Mastung and Gwadar.
