Govt eager to access OECD’s anti-bribery convention: Dar

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is currently working to meet the criteria and parameters of Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to formally apply for an accession to its convention on combating bribery, finance minister said.

Minister Ishaq Dar, during his bilateral meeting with Secretary General Angel Gurria of OECD in Paris, said the cabinet ratified the OECD’s multilateral convention on mutual administrative assistance in tax matters on 14 September.

A statement on Friday said the minister held two meetings with the OECD’s secretary general during the last three months. Minister Dar said Pakistan’s cabinet also authorised the finance minister for processing Pakistan’s membership to open government partnership (OGP).

He said Pakistan is the world’s first country to issue a tax directory of parliamentarians and the fourth country to publish general tax directory of taxpayers for the three consecutive years.

Angel Gurria, secretary general of OECD said active engagement with OECD clearly demonstrated Pakistan’s commitment to join the international mainstream fora to adopt the best practices and transparent and accountable governing structure.

He offered OECD’s technical help for developing Pakistan’s national action plan for OGP. They also discussed matters relating to transparency and good governance. Denis Simonneau, an executive at Engie – French multinational electric utility company – also called on the finance minister at the embassy of Pakistan in Paris and expressed interest of his corporate group to cooperate with Pakistan in the energy sector.