Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ISLAMABAD959
2008-03-04 11:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
PAKISTAN: INPUT FOR REPORT ON FISCAL TRANSPARENCY IN
how-toVZCZCXRO4519 RR RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHIL #0959 0641128 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 041128Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5573 INFO RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHINGTON DC RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 9178 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 5022 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 3722
UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000959
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN: INPUT FOR REPORT ON FISCAL TRANSPARENCY IN
COUNTRIES RECEIVING USG ASSISTANCE
Ref: State 16737
UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000959
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN: INPUT FOR REPORT ON FISCAL TRANSPARENCY IN
COUNTRIES RECEIVING USG ASSISTANCE
Ref: State 16737
1. (U) The following cable is in response to Washington's request
for information on fiscal transparency in countries receiving USG
assistance.
2. (U) Pakistan publishes its national budget following its approval
by the National Assembly. The budget is produced in paper format
and posted on the Ministry of Finance website. All revenues and
expenditures are included in the public version of the budget.
Articles 79 to 85 of Pakistan's Constitution govern the public
disclosure of revenues and expenditures, requiring that the national
budget be presented to the National Assembly for approval. Media
and embassy representatives are invited to observe the budget
presentation to the National Assembly and subsequent press
conference.
3. (SBU) The transparency of Pakistan's budgetary statistics has
improved over time. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) supported
a Pakistan-specific project to improve data transparency in
conjunction with the General Data Dissemination System (GDDS).
Under IMF guidance, fiscal monitoring committees were established at
the federal and provincial levels to coordinate and monitor fiscal
reporting and promote measures to improve account reconciliation and
data quality. Following Pakistan's 2003 entry into the GDDS, data
quality and public expenditure reconciliation improved at both the
federal and provincial levels. Accounting problems at the local
level, however, have yet to be fully addressed.
4. (SBU) Currently, there are no specific U.S.-sponsored programs
that promote accurate GOP disclosure of revenues and expenditures.
5. (SBU) A Fiscal Responsibility and Debt Limitation Law was passed
in 2005 and requires that by 2013 the total public debt not exceed
sixty percent of estimated gross GDP. The bill also stipulates that
public debt is to be reduced by at least 2.5 percent of estimated
gross GDP each year and that social programs and poverty alleviation
expenditures are at least 4.5 percent of estimated GDP. Embassy
Islamabad actively encouraged the Government of Pakistan (GOP) to
build a broad consensus in the National Assembly to ensure passage
of the bill, emphasizing clearly defined budget reporting
requirements and a multi-year debt reduction framework.
PATTERSON
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN: INPUT FOR REPORT ON FISCAL TRANSPARENCY IN
COUNTRIES RECEIVING USG ASSISTANCE
Ref: State 16737
1. (U) The following cable is in response to Washington's request
for information on fiscal transparency in countries receiving USG
assistance.
2. (U) Pakistan publishes its national budget following its approval
by the National Assembly. The budget is produced in paper format
and posted on the Ministry of Finance website. All revenues and
expenditures are included in the public version of the budget.
Articles 79 to 85 of Pakistan's Constitution govern the public
disclosure of revenues and expenditures, requiring that the national
budget be presented to the National Assembly for approval. Media
and embassy representatives are invited to observe the budget
presentation to the National Assembly and subsequent press
conference.
3. (SBU) The transparency of Pakistan's budgetary statistics has
improved over time. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) supported
a Pakistan-specific project to improve data transparency in
conjunction with the General Data Dissemination System (GDDS).
Under IMF guidance, fiscal monitoring committees were established at
the federal and provincial levels to coordinate and monitor fiscal
reporting and promote measures to improve account reconciliation and
data quality. Following Pakistan's 2003 entry into the GDDS, data
quality and public expenditure reconciliation improved at both the
federal and provincial levels. Accounting problems at the local
level, however, have yet to be fully addressed.
4. (SBU) Currently, there are no specific U.S.-sponsored programs
that promote accurate GOP disclosure of revenues and expenditures.
5. (SBU) A Fiscal Responsibility and Debt Limitation Law was passed
in 2005 and requires that by 2013 the total public debt not exceed
sixty percent of estimated gross GDP. The bill also stipulates that
public debt is to be reduced by at least 2.5 percent of estimated
gross GDP each year and that social programs and poverty alleviation
expenditures are at least 4.5 percent of estimated GDP. Embassy
Islamabad actively encouraged the Government of Pakistan (GOP) to
build a broad consensus in the National Assembly to ensure passage
of the bill, emphasizing clearly defined budget reporting
requirements and a multi-year debt reduction framework.
PATTERSON