‘Quality audit key to good governance’

Minister meets Indonesian State Audit Board, assures of cooperation

ISLAMABAD: The government believes in principles of transparency and accountability of financial management and fully supports the auditor general’s role to ensure these principles are followed in Pakistan, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said.

Speaking at the Ministry of Finance premises while receiving a delegation of the Indonesian State Audit Board (SAB), led by Board Chairman Harry Azhar Azis, Dar said quality audit and financial discipline could help achieve the goal of good governance.

The finance minister said that Pakistan and Indonesia have always enjoyed cordial relations.

“The Constitution of Pakistan has granted the necessary powers to the office of Auditor General so that it could effectively perform its oversight functions,” he added.

Azis briefed Dar on the composition and working of the audit board. He said that the Board enjoyed powers similar to Pakistan’s Auditor General and proposed to enhance cooperation and knowledge sharing between the audit institutions of the two countries.

The Pakistani counterpart assured the delegation of their full support in the initiative, adding that joint efforts between the two countries could enhance cooperation among Muslim countries in the field of audit, accounts and financial management.

The SAB chairman welcomed the proposal and both agreed that the matter could be pursued through the forum of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

Auditor General of Pakistan Rana Assad Amin, senior officials of the Ministry of Finance and AGP office were also present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd,  2016.

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