From left to right: Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehmoob, Mr. Ahmed Raza Tahir, Honourable Federal Minister Mr. Baleegh Ur Rehman, Professor Dr. Qaiser Mushtaq and Professor Kalim Ullah Kahn

December 16: The Opening Ceremony for PILDAT's project: Enhancing Empowerment of Women and Minorities of South Punjab through Effective use of RTI Law, took place in Ghotvi Hall of Islamia University Bahawalpur with the help of district governments Lodhran and Bahawalpur. 

This project is being implemented with the support of USAID Small Grants and Ambassador's Fund Program and in collaboration with Punjab Information Commission (PIC). Key objective of this initiative is to create awareness on the PTRTIA not only among Public Information Officers of the South Punjab but also its general population with focus on women, non-Muslim minorities, media and civil society representatives in order for them to become active users of the RTI Law.

Honourable Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training, Engr. Muhammad Baligh Ur Rehman attended the ceremony as the Chief Guest and showed immense support and appreciation for this project and PILDAT's continued efforts towards promoting the use of RTI. He emphasized the use of RTI by civil society in order to carry out effective oversight of this law and its implementation and ultimately for better governance in the province. 

Professor Dr. Qaiser Mushtaq, Vice Chancellor of Islamia University Bahawalpur, welcomed PILDAT's initiative on increasing awareness on the use of RTI in South Punjab. He highlighted the need for such projects and training exercises in Bahawalpur and assured his cooperation for future training programmes to be organized by PILDAT.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob President, PILDAT welcomed the Honourable speakers and guests present on the occasion. He further elaborated on the key features of PILDAT's project commencing in South Punjab on the use of PTRTIA 2013 expected to go on till April 2018.

Honourable Ms. Sabiha Nazim, MNA, Honourable Ms. Fauzia Ayub, MPA, Qazi Adnan Fareed, MPA, Mr. Naeem Malik, Deputy Director Punjab Information Commission, Mr. Ahmed Raza Tahir, Former Punjab Information Commissioner, Professor Kalim Ullah Khan, Former Information Commissioner KP and other key local elected government representatives of Districts Bahawalpur and Lodhran attended the project opening ceremony. 

Honourable Guests at PILDAT's Project Opening Ceremony in Bahawalpur