Capacity Building Training of Public Information Officers (PIOs) Held in Abbottabad
2026-04-12 ยท Event
A successful Capacity Building Training for Public Information Officers (PIOs) was conducted on 12 April 2026 in Abbottabad. The training, organized by Welfare Association Jared (WAJ) under the SAFE Media Project, equipped 12 PIOs from various government departments with vital knowledge on the KP RTI Act 2013, focusing on information categorization, handling RTI requests, and the 10-day response procedure.
Abbottabad, 12 April 2026: The Welfare Association Jared (WAJ), under the SAFE Media Project and funded by the Trust for Democratic Education and Accountability (TDEA), successfully organized a one-day "Capacity Building Training for Public Information Officers (PIOs)." The event was held at the WAJ Head Office and was attended by 12 PIOs (10 male and 2 female) from various government departments across the district.
The training was a direct outcome of the PIOs Consultative Meeting held on 15 February 2026, where participants urgently requested structured guidance on the legal provisions and practical handling of Right to Information (RTI) requests.
Distinguished Guests and Opening Session
The session commenced with the recitation of the Holy Quran. Mr. Mukhtar Javed, Executive Director of WAJ, welcomed the participants and highlighted the organization's commitment to transparent and accountable governance. He stressed that the training was meticulously designed to address the specific recommendations from the February consultation, including the need for clarity on information categorization, handling sensitive data, and processing RTI requests within the mandated timeframe.
Mr. Muhammad Akmal, Advocate and Chairperson WAJ Board of Governors, addressed the participants on the constitutional and legal framework of RTI, emphasizing that under Article 19-A of the Constitution, access to information is a fundamental right, not a privilege.
Comprehensive Training Sessions
The technical sessions were led by Mr. Shahzada Muhammad Ussama Ghazali, Project Coordinator WAJ, who utilized the specially developed PIOs Capacity Building Training Manual. The interactive training covered critical areas, including:
The RTI Landscape: The constitutional foundation under Article 19-A and the key provisions of the KP RTI Act 2013.
Information Categorization: Practical guidance on what to share (Section 5(1)) and what to withhold (Section 8), with a focus on the privacy dilemma.
The 10-Day Journey: A step-by-step guide on processing RTI applications from receipt, date stamping, gathering information, and making disclosure decisions.
Record Keeping & the RTI Commission: The importance of maintaining an RTI register and understanding the role of the RTI Commission in training, monitoring, and resolving appeals.