Islamabad (GNP): Marking the International Day for Universal Access to Information, the President reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to every citizen’s right to obtain information, especially on matters of public importance. He noted that in a democracy, people can take meaningful part in public life only when the information available to them is timely, credible, and dependable.
The President pointed to the Constitution as the foundation of this right. The 18th Constitutional Amendment reinforced protections for freedom of expression and added Article 19-A, which entitles every citizen to access information on matters of public importance, subject to regulation and reasonable restrictions set by law. The Right of Access to Information Act, 2017 provides a further legal framework at the federal level.
He acknowledged, however, that the right to know has become more complicated. Digital platforms, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies have transformed how information is created, shared, and consumed. The challenge, he said, is no longer just whether information exists, but whether citizens can tell reliable content apart from material that is false, manipulated, or deliberately misleading.
The President warned that information can be distorted or weaponised by many actors, including state and non-state groups, terrorist and criminal networks, and powerful, unregulated technology companies. This makes access to accurate, credible information both harder and more vital to an informed democracy, and highlights the role of journalists, media organisations, communication professionals, researchers, and other experts in helping citizens make sense of a rapidly changing information landscape.
He stressed that the response must protect the public’s right to know while ensuring that efforts to counter profit-driven misinformation and disinformation are not used to silence legitimate public-interest journalism, fair criticism, or meaningful public debate.
Transparency, accountability, and responsible communication by public institutions remain essential, he added, so that citizens can get reliable information from credible sources, particularly on issues that directly affect their lives.
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The President concluded by calling on the nation to reaffirm its commitment to protecting citizens’ right to information and to strengthening the institutions and professional practices needed to uphold it in a fast-evolving information environment.
Pakistan Zindabad
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
