The Freedom of Information Ordinance 2002 provides Pakistani citizens and civil society groups an opportunity to ensure greater oversight of governmental functioning and enhancing the transparency and accountability in governance. The stated purpose of the Ordinance is to “provide for transparency and freedom of information to ensure that citizens have improved access to public records and … make the Federal Government more accountable to its citizens”.

CRCP has effectively used the Ordinance to obtain information from several public bodies. This manual contains information on various aspects of the Ordinance and how Pakistani citizens can use it to access information and records held by government bodies as stipulated in the Ordinance Rules notified in June 2004.

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