U4 Helpdesk Query

U4 helpdesk reply

The query is sub-divided and answered in three sections:

• Part 1 presents information on Provincial level state anti-corruption bodies established in Punjab.
  
• Part 2 provides links to Punjab-based civil society actors and experts deemed to have experience in the fields of governance, anti-corruption and transparency.
  
• Part 3 references to available diagnostics and reports are presented.

Part 1: State anti-corruption bodies in Punjab, Pakistan

• Punjab Provincial Anti-Corruption Establishment
  

Here is a summary of the aims and objectives of the establishment (for detailed information please refer to its website):

The Special Agency known as the Anti-Corruption Establishment was set up for the purpose of investigation of offences relating to corruption committed by public servants and for holding preliminary enquiries against such public servants in the Province. It aims to enquire, investigate, arrest and prosecute corrupt public servants under ACE rules through Special Anti Corruption Courts; to enhance accountability by strengthening compliance with existing laws/rules of Anti-Corruption and minimizing abuse of public office/authority; and to simplify and overhaul the regulatory and the discretionary maze to bring about dramatic reduction in Corruption. It also aims to establish grievance redress procedures for the public and streamlining processes in order to meet Anti-Corruption measures more effectively.

• ACE's structure and organisation.
• Statistics on ACE's processed corruption cases as per Provincial public office/department (such as Police, Local Government, Health and Education and other local authorities). It provides an overview as to what sectors in Punjab receive the most complaints regarding corruption alleged incidences and cases. Police and revenue authorities top the table (the online statistics covers up to June 2000 data).

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Part 2: Civil society actors/experts in Punjab, Pakistan

Transparency International Pakistan recommends Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) as a reputable Punjab-based NGO with experience in the fields of governance and transparency. PILDAT has two offices in Punjab - in Lahore and in Islamabad. The contact names and details are:

PILDAT, Lahore/Islamabad, Punjab
Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, Executive Director
5-A, Zafar Ali Road, Gulberg V, Lahore-54000, Pakistan
Ph: (+92-42) 111 123 345
Fax: (+92-42) 575 1551
E-mail: executive.director@pildat.org

Islamabad Office
House 7, 9th Avenue, F-8/1, Islamabad, Pakistan
Ph: (+92-51) 111 123 345
Fax: (+92-51) 226 3078

In addition, a number of Pakistan NGO directories searchable per province and areas of activities (such as http://www.net-ngo.com and http://www.saewak.7p.com/pakngo.htm) were searched for the purposes of the query. As a result, details of NGOs found to have profiles relevant to governance, transparency and anti-corruption fields are listed below:

The Asia Foundation, Islamabad, Punjab
The Asia Foundation works to promote participatory, accountable, and transparent governance and strengthen the rule of law.

The organisation's contact names and details in Islamabad, Punjab are:
Julio A. Andrews, Representative
Greg Alling, Assistant Representative
Tel: (92) 51-2650523
Fax: (92) 51-2650736
Email: taf@pk.asiafound.org

Sustainable Development Policy Institute, Islamabad, Punjab
SDPI - Sustainable Development Policy Institute, is a policy research institute based in Punjab, which conducts nationwide research (most of it translated into provincial languages) in areas of Governance, Environment, Human Development and Economy.

UN Boulevard 3, Diplomatic Enclave 1,
G-5, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: + 92-51-2278134
Fax: +92-51-2278135
Email: main@sdpi.org

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Part 3: Diagnostics and Reports

The following surveys are not limited to the Province of Punjab. However, these are nationwide surveys with coverage of Punjab and might be of interest and relevance.

Baseline Survey/Social Audit of Governance and Service Delivery, by CIET International and NRB (National Reconstruction Bureau), conducted in 2001-2002 (published in 2003)

This is not a corruption measurement survey as such, but examines public's experience with dealing with different public services and government bodies, and is relevant for examination of the climate. In most cases, in addition to the national average, the replies are presented per province - allowing for comparisons. Set up as a means of monitoring the effects of the devolution of powers to local government levels on delivery of public services and governance, this baseline survey (piloted in ten districts in 2001 and implemented in the rest in 2002) included more than 50,000 household interviews covering all of Pakistan's districts. Respondents gave their views and experience with public services such as health, education, water, judiciary and police services, local government and others. According to CIET, the results of this baseline survey (published in October 2003) have been shared widely with policy makers, service providers and communities and are to be used as benchmarks. The social audit will be repeated, enabling to monitor the impact of devolution and allowing policies to be adapted according to evidence of what works and where. The social audit was commissioned by the NRB and supported financially by CIDA, UNDP and UNESCO.

Pakistan Corruption Report, 2002
This report was the basis for the regional report 'Corruption in South Asia: Insights and Benchmarks from Citizen Feedback Surveys in Five Countries'. The source survey (attached) contains not only the results but also all the background information such as the profile of respondents, country/provincial profiles, etc. The survey has been conducted by Marketing and Research Consultants under the auspices of TI Pakistan. The general objective of the survey was to measure the nature and extent of corruption being faced by consumers of seven public sector departments (Education, Health, Power, Land Administration, Taxation, Police, Judiciary). Another objective of the survey was to gather information about the particular stages where obstacles are usually being faced, locate the responsible element for creating the obstacles and the means for overcoming the bottlenecks in the seven sectors under study.

National and provincial level Pakistan Corruption Survey (upcoming, 2005)
This is an upcoming survey. National Accountability Bureau, the central Anti-Corruption agency of Pakistan, intends to hold a comprehensive survey about corruption. The survey is to be conducted in Islamabad, four provincial capitals (including Punjab) and some districts in each of the four provinces. Its main objective are to get the baseline data for measuring the effectiveness of NAB/NACS and other anti corruption/ governance initiatives in subsequent years; to know people's perception about different aspects of corruption; to gauge the causes, extent, and impact of corruption in Pakistan; and to assess the social attitude towards corruption. The tender note with further details is available already. When completed, survey results will be available on the NAB website.

In addition, the following recent donor activities and reports could be of interest as backgrounders to the overall public sector, governance and financial management frameworks (and of relevance vis-à-vis the fiduciary risk assessment), so it may be worthwhile consulting these donors for further leads:

World Bank
Pakistan Country Financial Accountability Assessment (CFAA), December 2003
As a diagnostic tool, the CFAA supports the Bank's fiduciary responsibilities by identifying strengths and weaknesses of PFM so that potential risks to Bank funds can be managed. It also supports the Bank's development objectives by facilitating common understanding with the borrower and other development partners to assist in the design of PFM capacity building programs. The report contains, amongst others, examination of mechanisms ensuring transparency, oversight and scrutiny of public funds.

Pakistan Public Sector Capacity Building Project (2004-2009)
One of the components of the project aims to strengthen economic policy and management, through capacity building of key federal and provincial ministries and divisions, including Finance, planning, commerce, Central Board of Revenue, etc., who are in the vanguard of design and implementation of the reform agenda.

Asian Development Bank
ADB is assisting the Government of the Punjab Province, Pakistan, with reforms in governance, institutions, and provincial finances that will make public service delivery more efficient, pro-poor, and sustainable, through a loan package approved in December 2003 totalling US$204 million. The emphasis of the first loan, which will be implemented over a period of 12 to 18 months, will be on reforming provincial finances through fiscal restructuring and financial management.
Search here for Information on this and other Punjab provincial projects of ADB
by typing "punjab" as the keyword or through contacting the ADB Resident Mission in Islamabad, Punjab at:
Tel: + 92 51 282 5011 to 16
Fax: + 92 51 282 3324/227 4718
Country Director: Mr. Marshuk Ali Shah (email: mshah@adb.org)

Also, ADB publications such as the 2003 regional "Diagnostic Study of Accounting and Auditing Practices", which includes Pakistan, may be of interest vis-à-vis fiduciary risk assessment as diagnostic information on financial management standards. The country reports describe the existing arrangements, identify deficiencies and make recommendations for improvement of standards. It can be ordered (free) at http://www.adb.org/Publications/product.asp?sku=0014CD