ALPURI: Budget transparency in Pakistan remains limited and public participation in the process is weak, creating significant gaps in accountability.
This was stated in the findings by the Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) released during a media briefing held at the Social Welfare Complex in Alpuri.
Social Welfare Shangla’s Ahsan Ahmad Khan, District Education Officer Aurangzeb Khalil, educationists Luqman Shah, Fazal Alam, and Ahsanullah, representatives of Shangla Bar Association including Ziaullah Advocate, and members of civil society including Waheed Murad, Shah Khan, Muhammad Shayan, Mustafa Khan, Rafiullah, Nawaz Khan, Usman Khan, former nazim Farmanullah, Khurshid Iqbal, and others were present on the occasion.
The findings were shared in CPDI’s State of Budget Transparency Report 2024-25, issued under its Citizen Network for Budget Accountability.The report reviewed the fiscal year 2024-25, noting that complete data for the current financial year will only be available after its conclusion.
According to the report, key budget documents are not regularly made public, restricting citizens’ ability to influence budget priorities. As a result, opportunities for meaningful public engagement remain limited.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman of Awami Welfare Society Mohiuddin and Executive Director Dr Yasmeen Gul said that although budgets are presented on time, the process of parliamentary consultation remains weak.
They noted that limited time is allocated for budget debates, with insufficient scrutiny, further undermining transparency.Mohiuddin and Yasmeen Gul added that the situation during the implementation phase is also concerning, as the government often fails to publish timely expenditure details and audit reports, weakening the overall oversight mechanism.
Reviewing provincial performance, the report noted that Punjab performed relatively better, followed by the federal government, while Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan lag behind in terms of transparency. Overall, the country’s level of budget transparency remains below global standards.
In its recommendations, CPDI urged governments to ensure timely and comprehensive disclosure of budget-related information, strengthen public participation, and establish robust accountability mechanisms to restore public trust and improve governance.
The CPDI stated that through the Citizen Network for Budget Accountability, it has long been working with civil society organizations across the country on research, reporting, and consultation related to federal and provincial budgets.It warned that failure to ensure transparency and public inclusion in budget-making could exacerbate fiscal management issues, ultimately affecting public welfare.
