Australian envoy visits Transparency Pakistan

Australian High Commissioner Peter Heyward visited the office of Transparency International Pakistan (TIP) on Saturday, according to a press release issued by the accountability watchdog.

The envoy met TIP chairman Sohail Muzaffar, adviser Syed Gilani and Executive Director Saad Rashid. He was accompanied by Australian Political Second Secretary Charlotte Kennedy.

Heyward was informed of various projects TIP had undertaken, especially the recommendations the organisations forwarded to the Chief Election Commissioner in order to ensure fair and transparent elections in Pakistan, the release stated.

Appreciating the watchdog’s work in Pakistan, he inquired as to what support his office could extend to TIP.

The High Commissioner was requested to look into the possibility of funding the Election Commission of Pakistan. He was also asked to see if it is feasible to install camera-systems in order to monitor close to 65,000 polling stations in the upcoming elections. The release put the estimated cost of the latter at $50 million.

Several other topics of mutual interest were also discussed in the meeting.

Heyward assured TIP officials that his office will look into their proposals, the release added.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th, 2012.