Ishaq Dar off to Paris to join OGP against corruption

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar will announce Pakistan’s decision to join Open Government Partnership (OGP) initiative at Paris on Wednesday (tomorrow) to demonstrate commitment at top level to make government’s functioning transparent and responsive in shape of launching anti-corruption drive at all tiers of government.

“Dar will declare the government’s decision for joining OGP initiative at Paris summit on December 7, 2016 in the scheduled meeting from Dec 6 to 9,” official sources confirmed while talking with The News here on Monday.

The government in consultation with civil society finalised plan to execute OGP initiative and it basically aimed at bringing transparency and accountability in functioning of governments. This OGP is different from anti bribery initiative. 

However, according to Finance Ministry’s statement issued here on Monday, Dar will undertake a three-day official visit to Paris, starting from Tuesday (today).  He accepted the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of France and the UK government to participate in the OGP Summit being held from December 6 to 9 in Paris.

The Finance Minister will attend Open Government Partnership (OGP) summit where leaders of over seventy countries will debate principles of transparency, accountability and citizen participation which contributes to good governance and socio-economic development of member countries.

Launched in 2011, OPG is a multilateral initiative aimed at promoting the principles of open and transparent government through civic consultation and participation, reinforcing public integrity and the fight against corruption. The minister is also likely to hold bilateral meetings with Managing Director AFD and the management of Renault besides interacting with French and Paris-based Pakistani media.