This will also include declaring assets on web besides putting online the details of tax paid, details of daily meetings of chief minister, ministers and secretaries.
A presentation prepared by the provincial Planning & Development (P&D) Department has suggested that all procurement over Rs5 Lakh should be advertised online while the monthly expenditures of the government departments and details of projects being implemented should be placed online.
On the issues of accountability, the proposal is aimed to ensure that there may be no relaxation of rules for all the projects. It also highlights the importance of ensuring regular audit, strict penal action against corrupt for which, if needed, would be involving civil society.
The functions of all departments and official fees allowed for various services would be placed online while underlining the need for setting up a high powered cabinet committee to clear data/information that is to be placed online.
Enumerating the major principles, the report said that the good governance has major characteristics of rule of law, transparency and free flow of information in addition to participation, equity and inclusiveness.
Besides, effectiveness and efficiency, accountability, control of corruption, balance between growth and distribution and present and future resource use would be the other major principles of good governance.
The presentation after thoroughly deliberating on the models of United Kingdom and United States for ensuring transparency concluded that solutions in these countries may no be fully relevant to the conditions being faced here in Pakistan, so there is a need to find solutions that suit the local characteristics
The proposal also deliberated upon Indian model for enhancing transparency by adopting Right to Information Act, Public Services Bill, Citizens Charters, e-governance, e-Bhoomi, e-Chaupal and e-Procurement. In this context, the proposal says that “in India an organization called the 5th Pillar is helping citizens fight back against bribery and corruption which is allegedly endemic in Indian government.
Their weapon is a piece of paper, or more precisely, a zero rupee note which has picture of Ghandi on it and a value of nothing.”
The proposal also quoted former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Anan as having said “corruption debases democracy, undermines the rule of law, distorts markets, stifles economic growth and denies many their rightful share of economic resources or life saving aid. Corruption undermines democracy and rules of law. It erodes public trust in government.”
The US Model on Transparency and Open Government also mentioned in the proposal by stating that “this US model articulates three principles including transparency, participation and collaboration.” Further elaborating the US model the proposal says that “Transparency promotes accountability, participation strengthens decision and collaboration enables others to help.”
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Abdul Sattar Khan
Quelle/Source: The News International, 01.04.2012
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