The Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) has said that Punjab’s government institutions have shown improvement in transparency, but significant gaps still exist.

In its latest transparency report, FAFEN noted that public sector bodies in Punjab disclose only about half of the required information on their official websites, urging the government to take necessary measures to enhance transparency.

The report highlights institutional shortcomings in transparency and the spread of misinformation, stressing that the absence of verified and official information fuels speculation, rumors, and assumptions, ultimately damaging institutional credibility.

According to the findings, Punjab’s transparency levels surpass those of the federal government, but government bodies must leverage technology to share authentic and timely information.

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Departments linked to the Punjab Secretariat lead in transparency, making 53% of the required information publicly available, followed by autonomous institutions (51%), special bodies (49%), and government-owned companies (37%).

Among 253 public institutions, the Provincial Human Rights and Minority Affairs Department, Punjab Prisons, and the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore topped the list, with over 80% compliance.

FAFEN announced that it would soon publicly share its recommendations to help the government prioritise transparency reforms.

With over 111 million internet users in Pakistan, the report emphasised the need to proactively utilise technology to ensure the availability of verified public information.