Finance Minister in Favor of Revising AGP Act

Federal Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb acknowledged the need to revise the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) Act in the backdrop of the 18th constitutional amendment, decisions of the Supreme Court, and international best practices. The Finance Minister visited the office of the Audit-General of Pakistan on Monday,  where he was apprised of the challenges being faced by the Department in managing the multiple tasks as enshrined in the constitution. The Auditor-General of Pakistan welcomed the minister who visited the Department of the Auditor-General of Pakistan (DAGP), the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) of Pakistan. Director General (Policy), Office of the Auditor-General of Pakistan gave a detailed presentation on the working of the Department of the Auditor-General of Pakistan covering its mandate and scope, interaction with the stakeholders, the internal governance and integrity mechanism and the impact of audit activity on strengthening the internal controls, stabilization of economy and benefits for the citizen of Pakistan. He was apprised about the audit reports which are professionally written and contain audit recommendations and are based on independently and apolitically executed audit programs to assist the parliament and provincial legislatures in promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance. To make auditing a collaborative exercise, all PAOs, CSOs, and even the general public were approached for their input for next year’s Audit Plans. The Finance Minister took a keen interest in the professional work carried out by the Department of the Auditor-General of Pakistan and emphasized reforms in the paradigm of the Department Accounts Committee, making the Principal Accounting Officers pay heed to the audit recommendations timely for the promotion of transparency and good governance. He acknowledged the need to revise the AGP Act in the backdrop of the 18th constitutional amendment, decisions of the Supreme Court, and international best practices. Furthermore, he assured his full support for establishing offices of DG Receipts Audit at the provincial level to fulfill AGP’s constitutional obligation.