MoIC is Biggest Challenge in Access to Information: OCAI

The Oversight Commission on Access to Information (OCAI) says the Ministry of Information and Culture is the biggest challenge in access to information.

The Chairman of OCAI said that the Ministry of Information and Culture has restricted their authority and most of the government institutions are not cooperating with the commission.

“Most of the institutions still do not believe in access to information and believe in deprivation,” said Sayed Ikram Afzali, the Chairman of OCAI.

Ministry of Information and Culture, Lower House of the Parliament, Administrative Office of the President and Independent Administrative Reform and Civil Service Commission are challenging access to information, according to OCAI.

“The Ministry of Information and Culture is the biggest challenge, the institution is not cooperating with us and creating problems,” Afzali added.  

Following the issue, the ministries of Public Works, Education, Labor and Social Affairs, Mines and Petroleum, Commerce and Counter Narcotics are the initiations which have not cooperated with OCAI.

However, the Attorney General Office, ministries of Rural Rehabilitation & Development, Borders & Tribal Affairs and sports are the institutions which have cooperated with OCAI in access to information.

The Oversight Commission on Access to Information was established two years ago by the government – a move to ease access to information but the commission faces serious challenges so far.