How to File a Right to Information Request in Punjab: Reply Due in 14 Working Days
File a right to information request in Punjab: who can apply, how to write it, where to send it and the 14 working day reply time. See the steps first.
Short answer: Write a plain letter in Urdu or English to the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the Punjab office that holds the record. Say exactly what you want and in what form. Hand it in, post it by registered post or send it electronically. The PIO must reply within 14 working days.
Every citizen of Pakistan can ask a Punjab government office for its records. The right comes from Article 19-A of the Constitution and from the Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act, 2013. This is useful when an office will not tell you why a file is stuck, what it spent or who got a permit.
We read the Punjab Information Commission's own application pages on 13 October 2026. The steps below follow those pages. We did not file a test request, so we cannot tell you how fast any single office replies in practice.
Any citizen can ask a Punjab public body for records
The Commission says any Pakistani citizen or registered organisation can apply. The request goes to a public body, which means a government office or an organisation that the government pays for.
The Commission lists seven kinds of public body. Check that yours is on the list before you write.
| Kind of public body | Covered |
|---|---|
| Government departments and autonomous bodies | Yes |
| Local government bodies | Yes |
| Governor's Secretariat | Yes |
| Courts, tribunals and government financed bodies | Yes |
| Provincial Assembly | Yes |
| Statutory bodies under provincial law | Yes |
| NGOs substantially financed by the government | Yes |
This covers provincial and local offices. A federal office, such as a federal ministry, falls under the federal law and a different Commission. For that route, read how to appeal to the Pakistan Information Commission.
Find the Public Information Officer before you write
Each public body has a PIO, and your request should name that officer and the head of the office. The Commission publishes a list of PIOs by department. The list on its site is dated 1 July 2025, so confirm the name by phone before you post.
If you cannot find the PIO, write the request to "The Public Information Officer" of the office. The Commission also asks you to name the administrative head, if you know who it is. Do not delay your request for a missing name.
Write the request so it can be answered
A clear request gets a clear reply. The Commission's page asks for the public body and office that holds the information, the details you want, the format you want it in, and your name, address, telephone and email. Plain paper is fine.
- Write the date and the name of the PIO and the public body.
- Write one short paragraph: "Under the Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act, 2013, please give me the following information."
- List what you want in numbered points. Name the file, the period and the type of record.
- Say what form you want: paper copy, soft copy, CD or inspection of the record.
- Add your name, address, telephone number and email.
- Sign it, and keep a photocopy.
Ask for records, not opinions. "Copy of the sanction order for road X in 2025" works. "Why was my road ignored" does not, because a PIO only has to give information that exists on file.
Send it and keep proof of delivery
The Commission says you can hand the letter to the PIO's office, send it by registered post or send it electronically. Proof matters, because every later step depends on the date the office received your letter.
If you hand it in, ask for a stamped copy or a diary number. If you post it, keep the registered post receipt. If you email it, keep the sent message. You need this proof if you later complain.
The reply time is 14 working days
The Commission's pages say the PIO should reply within 14 working days of receiving your application. The office may take another 14 days if it needs them. If a person's life or liberty is at stake, the reply is due within 2 working days.
| Situation | Reply time |
|---|---|
| Normal request | 14 working days |
| Office needs more time | Up to 14 more days |
| Life or liberty at stake | 2 working days |
Working days leave out weekends and public holidays. Count from the day the office received the letter, not the day you wrote it.
Fees and refusals need a careful read
The Commission's application page does not list an application fee. A summary of the Act we read says a body may charge only the cost of copying or sending the records. Ask the office for that cost in writing before you pay anything.
A body can refuse some records. The Commission's page points to section 13 of the Act for exemptions, but the page does not list them. We could not read the full legal text on an official page, so we do not list the exemptions here.
If the PIO refuses or stays silent, you have two options. You can ask the head of the office for an internal review, or you can go straight to the Commission. Read how to complain to the Punjab Information Commission.
Compare with the other provinces
Each province has its own Commission and its own rules. A request that works in one province will not work in another, because the public body must belong to that province. Use the page for the province that runs the office.
For Sindh, see how to file a right to information request in Sindh. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan have their own pages for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
Common questions
Who can file a right to information request in Punjab?
The Punjab Information Commission says any Pakistani citizen or registered organisation can apply to a Punjab public body.
Do I have to use a special form?
No. The Commission says you can use plain paper or the prescribed form, in Urdu or English.
How long does the office have to reply?
14 working days, with up to 14 more if needed. If life or liberty is at stake, the limit is 2 working days.
Is there a fee?
The Commission's application page lists no fee. A summary of the Act says only the cost of copying or sending may be charged. Ask for the amount in writing.
Can I ask a federal office for records under this process?
No. A federal office comes under the federal law. This process covers Punjab provincial and local bodies.
What if the office ignores my letter?
Keep your proof of delivery, then seek an internal review or complain to the Punjab Information Commission.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 13 October 2026, Pakistan time. We read the Punjab Information Commission's pages on the application procedure and the public bodies covered. We could not read the full text of the Act on an official page, so the fee and exemption points are marked as reported. We filed no test request.
About the author
Tax, Bills and Technology Writer
Ali Akhtar is a young and curious voice here at Pakistan Era. He is currently pursuing his A-Levels and has a growing interest in Pakistan’s changing industrial landscape and educational trends. Ali likes to write in a way that helps him explain and explore the world around him. His writing reflects the perspective of the new generation navigating the evolving trends of Pakistan where technology, youth innovation, and shifting opportunities are reshaping the country’s future.
