ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal has proposed reforms to strengthen parliamentary oversight, including time-bound audits, digital monitoring of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) directives and professional research support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Addressing an event on parliamentary oversight, he called for audited reports to be submitted to the PAC within 12 months of each financial year\u2019s end. He also proposed regular risk-based audits of major development projects and deadlines for implementing committee directives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The minister stressed the need for a digital tracking system linking the PAC Secretariat with the Auditor General\u2019s office to monitor departmental compliance. He also suggested incorporating compliance with PAC recommendations into the performance evaluations of senior government officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He called for permanent research teams comprising financial analysts, accountants and data experts to strengthen the PAC\u2019s institutional capacity. He further emphasised the importance of performance audits to assess the effectiveness of development projects and social sector programmes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ahsan Iqbal urged better coordination among the Auditor General\u2019s office, Planning Commission and PSDP to ensure audit findings inform development planning and budget allocations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Highlighting human development challenges, he said around 40 per cent of Pakistan\u2019s population remained excluded from the development process. He stressed that tackling child stunting and achieving at least 90 per cent literacy were essential for sustainable national development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He appreciated UNICEF for supporting discussions on parliamentary oversight and institutional accountability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal has proposed reforms to strengthen parliamentary oversight, including time-bound audits, digital monitoring of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) directives and professional research support. Addressing an event on parliamentary oversight, he called for audited reports to be submitted to the PAC within 12 months of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3002,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[11,12],"tags":[141],"class_list":["post-3001","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest","category-pakistan","tag-ahsan-iqbal"],"yoast_head":"\n