Speakers at a seminar organized by the Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) with the support of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) urged the government to enhance budget transparency and accountability in the country. The seminar, focusing on the importance of transparent and participatory budgeting, was held here on Tuesday with the primary objective of discussing challenges related to inclusivity and gender sensitivity within the budgetary framework.
Project Manager CPDI, Moonus Kayinat shared the essential steps to ensure participatory budgeting which is the essential component of democratic governance. As Pakistan navigates its fiscal challenges, the importance of transparency in its budgetary processes becomes even more crucial. Article 19-A guaranteed citizens access to information that ultimately leads to transparency, and budget documents should be pro-actively disclosed by the government departments, she further added.
Sana Durrani, chairperson of Ending Violence Against Women (EVAWG-alliance), urged inclusive and gender-sensitive budgeting. She highlighted that the Balochistan Domestic Violence Act 2014 remains unimplemented due to resource shortages. Durrani noted the absence of the Balochistan Information Commission and pending initiatives due to resource allocation issues.
Former MPA Qadir Nael underscored the importance of departments seeking neces
