RTI Act Need emphasised for capacity-building of journalists

Speakers at seminar on access to information have called upon the need to enhance capacity of journalists for better utilization of Right to Information Act in investigative journalism. They expressed these views while addressing a seminar organized by Punjab University Human Rights Chair, Institute of Communication Studies here on Monday.

Senator Waleed Iqbal, PU Vice Chancellor Prof Niaz Ahmed, senior journalists Fahad Hussain, Abdul Malik, In-charge ICS Dr Noshina Saleem, PU Human Rights Chair In-charge Dr Bushra Rehman, Chief Information Commissioner Punjab Mahboob Qadir, Honorary Norwegian Consular General Lahore Naveen Fareed, UNESCO representative Maliha Shah, Assistant Professor Fahad Mahmood, many other journalists and a large number of students were present on the occasion.

Addressing the seminar, Senator Waleed Iqbal said that Article 19 of the Constitution of Pakistan ensured freedom of speech and expression with a very few restrictions. He said that we must take care of others' reputation while exercising our right of freedom of expression. He said that true spirit of right to information rules and regulations was to release information pertaining to wrongdoings in departments.

PU VC Prof Niaz Ahmed said that PU issued all public information on its websites as access to information led to transparency. He said that the good governance, merit and law prevailed in every operation of the university.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019