A two-day national workshop focusing on budget transparency and parliamentary engagement was recently organized by the Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) in Pakistan. The event gathered over 20 parliamentarians from the National Assembly, Senate, and all four provincial assemblies, along with governance experts and key stakeholders, to discuss ways to strengthen fiscal oversight and enhance transparency in the country’s budgeting process.
During the workshop, participants had the opportunity to reflect on their roles in budget formulation and oversight, while also sharing experiences from recent parliamentary debates. Discussions highlighted the importance of peer learning as legislators exchanged challenges and successes encountered in their respective assemblies.
Key themes at the forum addressed the need to bolster parliamentary oversight and increase public trust in the budget process. Participants emphasized the significance of integrating constituency-specific needs into broader budget priorities to ensure that resource allocation meets the demands of citizens across the country.
The workshop also explored the issues surrounding fiscal federalism, including the National Finance Commission (NFC) and Provincial Finance Commission (PFC), stressing the importance of equitable resource distribution among the provinces. Experts such as Mr. Mukhtar Ahmed Ali, Executive Director of CPDI, and Mr. Usama Khawar Ghumman provided insightful guidance, encouraging actionable improvement in parliamentary budget practices.
The event concluded with practical recommendations aimed at improving the quality of budget debates, strengthening transparency, and fostering greater citizen engagement in Pakistan’s public finance processes.
