According to Transparency International recent report corruption is down in Punjab and Baluchistan but up in Sindh and NWFP. Sindh is the most corrupt province. Does a PPP government in Sindh have anything to do with the change?
Corruption in the provinces of Punjab and Baluchistan has declined while it has increased in the provinces of Sindh and NWFP, according to a recent survey conducted by Transparency International
A press release issued by TI (Pakistan) says that the survey carried out June- July 2009 in the four provinces regarding the citizens perception as to the level of corruption in the four provinces. Compared to 2006, corruption perception in 2009 indicates that Sindh Province had surpassed Punjab Province as the most corrupt province. Corruption in the NWFP has perceived to have increased by 13%, Sindh by 5% while Punjab corruption is perceived to have decreased by 9% and Baluchistan by 10%.
On NRO., TI Pakistan has already said on 7th October 2007 that this ordinance was against the fundamental rights of the citizens of Pakistan, and is a negation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) ratified by Pakistan in August 2007. The NRO has not only damaged the Pakistan image, but and the constraint of the NRO still damaging the credibility of Political Parties is the provision of the National Reconciliation Ordinance – 2007: “No sitting member of Parliament or a provincial assembly shall be arrested without taking into consideration the recommendations of Special Parliamentary Committee on Ethics or Special Committee of the Provincial Assembly on Ethics, before which the entire material and evidence shall be placed by the chairman NAB.” The National Assembly has formed 41 Committees, but since last 17months, the Special Parliamentary Committee on Ethics or Special Committee of the Provincial Assembly on Ethics have not been formed, which is harming the image of political parties in general .
TI Pakistan is of the view that corruption is the ‘cancer’ which has deprived Pakistan the Rule of Law since the last 60 years and has weakened the very foundation of the Nation. It has limited the economic growth, hampered investment, and reduced the effectiveness of development programs. It has diverted the important, and scarce public resources towards private gains, dictatorial rule of military and civilian rulers. This has resulted in increased illiteracy, the poor becoming poorer and breakdown of democratic and administrative institutions. It has caused militancy amongst the deprived youth, which is now threatening the very existence of the state.
TI Pakistan has also been requesting the GOP to provide them copies of the Tender documents, Evaluation reports and Contract Agreement of the Rental Power Plants under the PPRA & FOI Ordinances. Despite repeated requests, the concerned department have failed to supply the documents. There was a great deal of controversy generated regarding the manner in which invitations to set up the rental power plants were being called for. According to rules the tender documents had to be prepared according to the Public Procurement Rules 2004. In the tender document, constraints were to receive seven percent, down payment. It is reported that in a number of cases, post tender, the down payment has been raised to 14 percent and now withholding tax in this amount has been waived. This selective concession is a violation of transparent award of contracts under PPRA 2004.