ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday emphasized that the federal government was fully committed to ensuring transparency and adopting international standards of governance.
While presiding over a meeting at the Ministry of Finance in Islamabad regarding Open Government Partnership (OGP) initiative, the minister said the government’s accessions to the Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters and submission of letter of intent to join OGP were proof of the government’s commitment.
During the meeting, Economic Affairs Division (EAD) officials briefed the minister on the progress of the National Action Plan (NAP) being prepared for submission to OGP.
They informed the minister that input for the NAP had been obtained from most of the stakeholders, and EAD was in the process of gathering the remaining input.
The minister was apprised that EAD had already organized a number of consultative meetings in Islamabad as well as in the provincial capitals for preparation of the National Action Plan with the support of Federal Ministries, Provincial governments, Civil Society, Academia and other stakeholders.
The finance minister directed EAD to ensure that input and commitments from all stakeholders were incorporated in the NAP. He further directed that a broader-level consultation with all stakeholders might be held prior to the submission of the NAP to the Federal Cabinet for approval, and subsequent submission to the OGP Secretariat.
The Finance Secretary and senior officials of the Finance Division and EAD attended the meeting.
It may be recalled that Pakistan has already met the eligibility threshold for membership to OGP, achieving 15 out of the 16 criteria.
The finance minister handed over Pakistan’s Letter of Intent to join OGP to the French President during the fourth biennial OGP Global Summit held in Paris in December 2016.
An important requirement of OGP is for the government to develop a national action plan in consultation with civil society and private sector, and to define commitments to foster transparency, accountability and public participation in all government processes.
