Latest news with #Sub-NationalGovernance
Business Recorder
01-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Minister highlights reforms, inclusivity in pre-budget workshop
LAHORE: Punjab Finance Minister Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman said on Wednesday that the Punjab government is committed to prioritizing province's development needs to through a balanced approach revenue generation and public expenditure. He was addressing a pre-budget consultative workshop for the fiscal year 2025–26 at a local hotel. The workshop was organized by the finance department Punjab in collaboration with the FCDO-funded Sub-National Governance (SNG) Programme. The workshop aimed to foster an inclusive, transparent, and participatory budget-making process. A wide array of stakeholders including government officials, development partners, civil society, and academia participated in the event. The finance minister emphasized key reforms that have contributed to improving fiscal governance. He highlighted that digital transformation within the Punjab Revenue Authority and the shift from annual rental value to capital value for urban property assessments have significantly enhanced revenue generation while reducing financial irregularities. Similarly, pension reforms have helped manage future financial liabilities more efficiently, while rationalizing agricultural subsidies has eliminated billions in circular debt — a significant achievement for the provincial government. He further stated that public engagement in budget formulation is an established practice in Punjab. The government has consistently incorporated feedback from past consultations into budget decisions. 'No segment of society has ever been, nor will ever be, deprived of its fundamental needs under our governance,' he assured. 'The Budget 2025–26 will truly reflect the aspirations and priorities of our people.' The minister added, 'This workshop is a testament to our commitment to ensuring that the budget-making process is transparent, inclusive, and reflective of the voices of all citizens — especially those traditionally left unheard. The active involvement of civil society, academia, and development partners guarantees that public priorities remain central to our fiscal planning.' Key thematic areas discussed during the workshop included education, health, social protection, agriculture, industry, justice, and local governance. Sector-specific breakout sessions focused on identifying budget priorities, with special attention to the needs of women, girls, persons with disabilities, non-Muslim minorities, and the transgender community. Speaking at the event, Matt Clancy, Senior Governance Advisor at the FCDO, British High Commission Pakistan, stated, 'Public participation in the budgeting process is critical to building trust in government. We are proud to support the Government of Punjab through the SNG Programme to make public finance more inclusive, transparent, and responsive to the real needs of citizens.' Distinguished attendees included Khawar Mumtaz, former Chairperson, National Commission on the Status of Women; Umer Abbas Mela, Additional Finance Secretary (Budget); senior officials from key departments and representatives from the World Bank, UNDP, FCDO, UNICEF, GIZ, LUMS, and Punjab University. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
14-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
K-P launches integrated IT portal
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has achieved a significant milestone with the launch of an Integrated IT Portal for public sector entities, aimed at ensuring strict financial discipline, transparency in the utilization of public funds, and improved public service delivery. Developed with technical support from the FCDO-funded Sub-National Governance (SNG) Programme, the Integrated IT Portal is set to revolutionize financial oversight and governance across 181 public sector entities (PSEs) in K-P. This centralized platform features real-time financial and operational Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), interactive dashboards, and automated reporting mechanisms. It empowers the Corporate Governance Unit (CGU) of the Finance Department to monitor, manage, and enforce fiscal discipline effectively. The formal launch of the portal took place in Peshawar, with Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur as the chief guest. The event was attended by Advisor to the Chief Minister on Finance, Muzammil Aslam, senior government officials, and representatives from partner organizations. Currently, the K-P government oversees 183 public sector entities, including autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies, universities, teaching hospitals, municipal service delivery units, and other public organizations. This new portal enhances financial oversight and operational efficiency across these entities, making K-P the first province in Pakistan to implement such a system. With its launch, the use of the IT portal is now mandatory for all public sector entities in the province. The system offers advanced financial performance indicators, interactive dashboards, and an automated reporting mechanism to facilitate better decision-making, monitoring, and governance. During the event, the first-ever Service Delivery Performance Monitoring Report was also presented. Initially piloted in three departments, the report has now been extended to all government departments and subordinate entities.
