Government agrees to recommendations

Govt accepts recommendations of Transparency International aimed at mitigating corruption.

ISLAMABAD: In order to ensure the transparent use of foreign aid in carrying out relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction activities, the government has accepted the recommendations of Transparency International aimed at mitigating corruption and soothing the international community’s concerns over the misuse of funds.

Transparency International presented these recommendations during a workshop titled ‘Ensuring the Transparent Use of Flood Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction’, sponsored by international donors.

The proposals include encouraging whistleblowers from within the system by providing them incentives and protection, the establishment of a complaint cell, monitoring of aid and openness of the procurement procedure.

The international community is reluctant to help out Pakistan in rehabilitation and reconstruction activities in flood-affected areas due to fears of aid misuse. Against the United Nations’ revised appeal to provide $2 billion for early relief and recovery, donors have so far committed only $411 million – an amount even less than the original appeal.

Furthermore, the initially committed aid in cash has been converted into aid-in-kind by many European countries.

“The government assures complete transparency, openness and acceptance of best-practised yardsticks while using the aid money for rehabilitation and reconstruction,” asserted Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh.

He said that the government has accepted the proposals as this has given an opportunity to improve the country’s image. The finance minister added that the seriousness of the government could be gauged by the fact that it had constituted the National Oversight Disaster Management Council, which has been empowered to review rehabilitation plans and monitor aid flow and its utilisation.

Shaikh said that the government has agreed to four recommendations, which include the involvement of affected groups in decision-making, ensuring full transparency in aid distribution through the national tracking system, non-discretionary procurement and the establishment of a complaint cell.

Robert Wilson, mission director at the United States Agency for International Development, said that the Pakistan chapter of Transparency International would monitor the use of American aid flowing in under the Kerry-Lugar Bill, through which the US will provide $1.5 billion in civilian assistance to Pakistan.

A senior adviser of Transparency International said that the government should use the media to disseminate information. “Anti-corruption policies, regulations and procedures are only effective when regularly monitored,” she added.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 24^th, 2010.