LAHORE: Transparency International (TI) Pakistan organized a Capacity Building Training of Government Officers on Climate Sensitive Budgeting and Climate Finance Transparency, in Lahore on 06 August, 2024. The workshop aimed to enhance the capacity of climate-related departments in understanding climate finance, planning processes and integrating transparency, and providing tools for tracking climate finance.
The training aimed to promote transparency, accountability, and informed public engagement in climate decision-making, official press release stated.
Senior officers from around 25 departments including Climate Change, Forest and Wildlife, Irrigation, Planning and Development, Livestock, Agriculture, Energy, Finance, Urban Development departments and Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and Environment Protection Agency (EPA) attended the training.
Climate change and climate finance experts Azmat Shahi, and Dawar Hameed Butt discussed climate financing frameworks, tools for tracking, monitoring and evaluation of climate finance, climate sensitive budgeting, global best practices for integrity and transparency in climate finance and the incorporation of these practices into the provincial public financial management system. The experts discussed that capacity building of government departments is crucial to access the international climate finance and maintaining transparency into it.
The session also mainstreamed the awareness about scoring checklist developed by TI Pakistan. The scoring checklist focuses on incorporating climate-sensitive metrics into planning, budgeting, and implementation processes. It was also discussed that auditing institutions such as Accountant General of Pakistan and anti-corruption bodies also need expertise in climate change. This expertise would ensure that audits consider not only the financial aspects but also environmental and climate factors, such as environmental impact assessments and carbon reduction efforts.
Saba Ali Asghar, Chief Environment and Climate Change, represented Planning and Development Department, Government of Punjab. She briefed the participants that the Punjab government using whole of government approach is in process of approving Climate Change Policy 2024. Several projects worth billion rupees are being implemented with an aim to highlight and address the impact of climate change. She also informed the participants that Planning and Development department has started climate tagging of the projects which will help mainstream projects information as well as their contributions to mitigation and adoption targets in line with NDCs.
Justice (R) Ather Saeed, Board of Trustees TI Pakistan welcomed the participants, and said that judiciary has played an important role in pushing for addressing the effects of climate change. There is a need for strong environmental tribunals at local levels for pushing on environmental issues.
Kashif Ali, Executive Director, Transparency International Pakistan spoke on Climate Procurement Transparency. He highlighted that Punjab Procurement Rules 2014 include various transparency features and it is important the climate relevant departments ensure strict compliance to PPRA rules in climate finance projects. He highlighted that Punjab PPRA Rule 66 provides a mandatory requirement of citizen oversight through disclosure of all climate procurement data. He emphasized that procurement transparency helps prevent corruption, and optimize resource allocation for climate initiatives.
Mahboob Qadir Shah, former Chief Information Commissioner (CICR), Punjab Information Commission. He briefed the participants on proactive disclosure provision under Punjab RTI Act 2013. He said RTI Act holds strong potential for achieving transparency and effectiveness. The citizens and civil society can hold institutions accountable and promote more informed public engagement in climate decision-making through compliance with RTI Act.