Transparency and citizens' participation in the budget-making process sought at the district level in Punjab: CPDI Report - Press Release issued by Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives.

Islamabad -- December 12, 2018 (PPI-OT)

Following is the text of press release issued by Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI)

Quote

The budget study report revealed transparency and citizen's participation in the budget-making process was found lacking at the district level in Punjab. Budget Call letters were delayed; consultation with relevant stake holders not held, only five districts had functional websites and 116 posts remained vacant in district budget branches while in 1 district, finance officer seat remained vacant during last fiscal year.

CPDI demands adherence to the "Punjab Local Governments (Budget) Rules 2017", transparency and citizens' participation in the budget-making process at the district level in Punjab. The first draft of the district budget should be presented in April to ensure timely input from citizens," said Faisal Manzoor, Senior District Coordinator the CPDI, while sharing the details of the study during a seminar named "District Level Budget Consultation" organized by CPDI here on Tuesday.

Mr. Faisal further said that Budget is the most important policy document of the government and state policies are supposed to be formulated through active public participation but local governments (LGs) had failed to include stakeholders in the budget-making process. He said only five districts released pre-budget statement, Pre-budget consultation with stakeholders was also not held in 31 per cent of districts and only six districts had issued the BCL till November 15, last year while 10 others had not initiated it till March 31, this year. Only fourteen districts were able to approve own budget before June 30, 2018, he added.

Faisal further added...