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Quarterly

Newsletter

July-Sep 2015

Volume XXVVV A CHANGING WORLD

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ALAC Pakistan

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Editor: Akber Panjwani Layout: Maryam Khalid Cartoonist: Zahid Gara

Inside this

Issue

TI Pakistan

Jul-Sep2015

Anti-Fraud Hotline

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The agenda of SDGs will require Pakistan to change its old way of doing business and embracing new priorities. This is possible given the focus on South-South cooperation in the 70th General Assembly Session. This forum scaled up the long lost cause of cooperation among developing countries that should also help Pakistan in achieving these SDGs. It is high time for the leaders of South Asia to revive the SAARC and ensure betterment of South Asians which make up for more than a billion people and is still slacking even with a high endowment of natural and human resources. The focus of power in this day and age is changing from a US-led order towards Asia and Latin America. Pakistani leaders should think of how they can develop a new system that can empower our country to become a major player of the Global South.

The root of all these problems is corruption. Transparency International Pakistan’s major aim is to fight corruption and increase awareness amongst masses to demand for change and not silently accept the status quo. Standing up against corruption is the only way forward for people of Pakistan. We have seen a changing security environment in Pakistan given the army operations in Northern Areas, Karachi and Baluchistan. We are also witnessing major Chinese investment taking place in Pakistan. This is the right time for politicians of Pakistan to incorporate the agenda of sustainable development as military might and foreign investment is only the icing on the cake. Change can only come from within and development of human resources, fighting corruption and focusing on the goals of SDGs is the only way forward for a prosperous Pakistan.

This week we have seen the world leaders gather in New York to mark the 70th anniversary of the birth of the United Nations. What makes this gathering stand out from previous gatherings is the focus on a Sustainable Development Agenda (SDA) and not conflict resolution. This proves the importance of human development in this rapidly changing world; a world where stagnancy has no place. Member states have reached an agreement on 17 development goals to be achieved by 2030. These goals include hunger, poverty, gender equality, sustainable development, human rights, quality education, climate change, and sustainable energy for all. However, it is essential to realize that these goals are highly ambitious and aim to change the lives of billions of people. The extents to which these aims will be fully realized depend not only on efforts by the international community but also on the priorities of individual nations. It is disappointing to realize that Pakistan has fallen far behind, even though a UN report claimed that Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) had reduced poverty by half. This is because we have never given enough priority to investing in human development. We have fallen behind on major issues like poverty, quality education and gender equality. Given this abysmal record, how will Pakistan be able to achieve the targets of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? These goals have come up at a time where Pakistan is faced with higher inequality, environmental destruction, and conflicts. Our resources have been placed to attain higher quality of military equipment and nuclear warheads instead of quality education and health.

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Transparency International-Pakistan

AFH SYNOPSIS

The objective of Anti-Fraud Hotline is to help the citizens of Pakistan in reporting corruption in USAID funded projects across Pakistan. The Anti-Fraud Hotline has successfully completed the last quarter of its fifth year. This is one of the most prominent and successful projects of USAID. The project has been granted an extension of another two years, based on its effectiveness and unbiased reporting. Investigations undertaken by OIG based on information provided by the Hotline have ultimately culminated into recovery of Millions of U.S Taxpayers money. The project aims to bring the alleged cases of fraud, wastage and abuse to the notice of Office of Inspector General (OIG). This is achieved through a fully functional complaint management cell with trained professionals with effective communication skills in almost every regional language of the country. The complaints were generated via various mediums such as the calls received on the hotline, emails, walk-in complainants, sms and mobile calls. The dynamic marketing and advertisement approach of AFH through television, newspaper, radio and billboard also encourage the citizens to report the fraudulent activities in USAID funded projects to AFH irrespective of what, when and where they may occur. The AFH also examines and screens various newspapers for any possible violation of PPRA rules in the procurement of USAID G2G projects. Anti-Fraud hotline has received over 70,000 calls since its inception, which is a testament to the efficacy of the projects marketing initiatives. This enormous figure of contacts has resulted in the formation of over 7,000 complaints of which many complaints have given the OIG with useful insight into detection of a possible fraudulent activity, and further investigation has consequently resulted into recovery of USAID funds worth Millions of Dollars. In the reporting quarter, AFH hotline received over four thousand calls. From the total call volume, around 77 calls resulted in actual complaints, while the remaining calls included people calling to inquire about USAID projects and activities in Pakistan, or to update already uploaded complaints, as well as to inquire the status of their uploaded complaint. This volume also includes irrelevant calls.

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Mobile ALACs are being conducted in more areas with the passage of time. Citizens are learning that the government departments are accountable to the tax payers. They are receiving free legal advice as well as becoming more aware regarding corruption. Experience sharing sessions are arranged at the Mobile ALACs where people who faced corruption share their experience with others to make them more aware and

knowledgeable. The first session was held in the Mobile ALAC camp held in district Quetta, Balochistan. Positive feedback has been received from our partner NGO about the session.

This allows TI Pakistan to build an effective momentum for change as an increasing number of citizens utilize the laws to demand information. TI- Pakistan has forwarded proposed RTI and Whistleblowers Laws to the Federal and Provincial Government. Federal and Punjab Government have formed committees to finalize the Whistle Blower Protection laws. The committees have sent their recommendations to the Prime Minister and Chief Minister of Punjab.The proposed laws now await to be enacted.

Two capacity building workshops on Right to Information laws were arranged, one in the Sindh province and one in the Punjab province. More workshops are planned in the coming months to continuously enhance awareness of RTI laws.

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In this quarter, ALAC has carried out five Mobile ALACs. These Mobile ALACs were arranged in Tehsil Gojra Toba Tek Singh and Chak#30 WB Vehari in collaboration with Sudhar Development Organization, Labor colony Quetta in collaboration with Sabawoon for Peace & Sustainable Development (SPSD), Chak#27/11-L Sahiwal, and in Lower Dir in collaboration with Movement for Rural Development Organization.

Advocacy & Legal Advice Centre (ALAC)

ALAC Pakistan continues to provide free legal advice to victims of corruption. Clients contact TI Pakistan through the hotline operated by its ALAC. Many clients are forwarded through the mobile ALACs organized in collaboration with local partner NGOs. The clients receive advice from the TI Pakistan’s lawyer. In certain cases TI Pakistan intervenes on behalf of the victims with public agencies to get their complaints resolved.

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By attending the RTI workshops participants became aware of the law and how they function. It is important to note that most of the participants did not have any previous knowledge about such laws, so it will take some times to achieve the desired results. However, the overall awareness has been increasing.

In the RTI sessions, we have prepared a questionnaire to form baseline survey regarding the citizen’s awareness of the RTI laws. TI-Pakistan has developed a training module to make the topic in the workshops standardized. Participants are also trained to write applications by using these laws. In these workshops the participants are encouraged to use RTI laws to know about their rights.

Transparency International Pakistan has been working with a coalition of 23 other NGOs to advocate for stronger Right to Information Laws in Pakistan and Sindh specifically. Coalition on Transparency & Access to Information meets often to debate on the progress being made and has prepared a draft after a lot of debate and consultation titled “The Sindh Right to Information Bill, 2015”. Our strategy is to ensure that this law is passed at the provincial level and assist the government in whatever way possible to ensure strict implementation of this law.

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ALAC

RTI Coalition

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16th International Anti-Corruption Conference ( IACC) from 2nd – 4th September 2015 was organized in Putrajaya, Malaysia. International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC) is the world premier forum that brings together civil society, heads of state and the private sector to tackle the increasingly sophisticated challenges posed by corruption. The IACC draws attention to corruption by raising awareness and stimulating debate. It fosters the global exchange of experience and methodologies in controlling corruption. The conferences promote international cooperation among agencies and citizens from all parts of the world, helping to develop personal relationships by providing the opportunity for face-to-face dialogue and direct liaison between representatives from the agencies and organisations taking part. Some key themes from the 16th International Anti-Corruption Conference; Participants focused on the many ways they can act together to ensure integrity and stop corruption. Some key themes from the 16th International Anti-Corruption Conference were; Efforts to recover stolen assets are as important as making sure there is no safe haven for the corrupt or a way for them to enjoy illicit wealth. It should be made impossible for the corrupt to use diplomatic passports and investor’s visa programmes to avoid justice. The G20 and non-governmental organisations have called on countries to impose travel restrictions on individuals suspected of corruption, believing that, if sufficient guarantees are put in place, these measures can act as a sanction as well as disincentive. These restrictions must be enforced so that the corrupt cannot easily travel to expand their illegal activities, as well as buy luxury goods and real estate. Professionals – such as bankers, lawyers, real estate agents, accountants – who fail to exercise adequate due diligence, thus allowing the movement of illicit funds across borders must themselves be sanctioned. The corrupt should not be able to use secret companies to hide their wealth. Banks should make every effort to comply with anti-money laundering laws and prevent money laundering from flourishing, while other sectors such as the accountancy and the legal professions should stop facilitating corruption. The international anti-money laundering legal framework is inadequate and should be strengthened to ensure more robust control and punishment. Open Contracting should become a key tool for all governments. It is relevant across all sectors of government, from education, health to infrastructure that ensures governments receive value for money, citizens are able to participate in the decision making process, and allow fair competition for business. Grand corruption should become a crime of international law. This will enable international institutions and alliances to prosecute offenders, as well as develop additional international mechanisms to apprehend, prosecute, judge, and sentence those who have committed crimes of grand corruption. In the context of the discussions, the delegates called for the full independence and autonomy of all anti-corruption bodies

16th International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC)

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August

Meetings with USAID Pakistan Staff by Mr. Fawad Sayed, Project Manager, Mohammad Ali Taj, Business Analyst, Huma Ashar, APC and Maryam Khalid, APC of Transparency International Pakistan along with OIG at US Embassy, Islamabad on 25th & 26th of Aug.

August-

September

Mobile ALAC organized in Chak 30 WB Vehari (13th Aug), Lower Dir (15th Aug), Labour Colony Quetta (18th Aug), Tehsil Gojra (22nd Aug), Chak 27/11 L- Sahiwal (7th Sep).

August-September

Syed Adil Gilani, Adviser, Transparency International Pakistan attended Annual Member’s Meeting in Malaysia from 31st Aug, 2015- 2nd Sep, 2015.

September

One day Training workshop on ‘Punjab Transparency’ and ‘Right to information Act 2013’ in Burewala , Punjab on 10th Sep and One day Training workshop on ‘Right to Information Law’ in Sindh on 25th Sep.

Contact Us

5-C, 2nd Floor, Khayaban-e-Ittehad, Phase VII, D.H.A, Karachi.

92 21 3 5390408/9 Fax: 92 21 3 5390410

www.transparency.org.pk

www.facebook.com/ TransparencyInternational.Pakistan

Transparency International Pakistan Activities

July ~ September, 2015

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tipakistan1

Transparency International Pakistan

ti.pakistan@gmail.com