In this order issued by the Pakistan Information Commission (PIC), it has been determined that the NTDC is considered a public body accountable under the Right of Access to Information Act, 2017. The appellant had requested specific information related to a tender procurement, which NTDC had initially declined to share, citing confidentiality concerns. However, the PIC ruled that the appellant, as a citizen of Pakistan, has a fundamental right to access this public record. The Commission ordered NTDC to provide the requested information within 10 working days, and it was decided that the law of estoppel prevents NTDC from reasserting claims of confidentiality that had previously not been entertained by the Commission or the Islamabad High Court.
In summary, the PIC’s order affirms the public nature of NTDC, upholds the appellant’s right to access the requested information, and requires NTDC to comply with the order within a specified timeframe.