From Vulnerability to Resilience: Sindh’s Climate Finance Success Story
Pakistan, like many other nations, is grappling with the harsh realities of climate change. Pakistan faces a heightened risk of extreme weather events, including floods, droughts, and heatwaves, which are exacerbated by climate change and is ranked as the 8th most vulnerable countries to climate change. These events not only pose a significant threat to human lives but also impact agriculture, water resources, and infrastructure.
In the face of increasing climate vulnerability, particularly in the province of Sindh, Pakistan, a remarkable success story emerged through a commitment to transparency and responsible governance. It is essential to acknowledge that corruption exacerbates the adverse effects of climate change on local communities. When funds intended for climate adaptation and mitigation measures are diverted through corrupt practices, it hinders the province’s ability to effectively address the pressing environmental challenges it faces, leaving vulnerable communities even more exposed to the impacts of climate change.(Read Full Story)
PKR 1.13 Billion Outstanding Royalty Recovered from Two Companies on TI Pakistan Intervention
Governments across the world need resources, material, equipment, and services to execute public projects. The execution of the projects, procurement and services permits require that the entire activity be carried out in transparent, economical, and efficient manner, to result in the best value for the country, government and its citizens
On 16th December 2022, TI Pakistan came across a complaint of official collusion with the private companies causing loss of PKR 1.13 Billion to the national exchequer. It was pointed out that to undertake petroleum exploration activities, exploration licenses were granted to M/s SPUD Energy over Guddu and Bolan blocks, and to M/s Frontier Holding Companies over Badin IV South Block. These licenses were given under the provision of Pakistan Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Rules, 1986.
On account of commercial discovery in these blocks, the President of Pakistan granted a development and production leases to the holders of license to undertake development activities and produce petroleum. M/s Sui Southern Company (SSGCL) is the nominated buyer of the natural gas and crude oil/condensate from Bolan Block and Badin IV South Block, while M/s Engro Fertilizers is the nominated buyer of the natural gas from Guddu Block.
responded to TI Pakistan and stated “that the provincial share of royalty is directly transferred to the relevant province where well-head is located… and the federal government has nothing to say or advise in this regard’. The DG (PC) response was axiomatically contrary to the Constitution of Pakistan 1973, Rules of Business 1973 and Pakistan Petroleum (E&P) Rules 2001. ….(Read Full Story)
Women and Access to Justice
Corruption takes many forms. However, it affects people differently based on gender,socio-economic status, background, position of power and influence. In a country like Pakistan,where abject poverty, misogyny, lack of access to essential services, is a description of the dailylife of women in the rural areas, this means that due to their socio-economic background,women are often disproportionately affected by the corruption.
In fact, this gendered impact of corruption is far more glaring in cases where women have tostrive to claim their due entitlements and rights. For instance, Article 23 of the Constitution ofthe Islamic Republic of Pakistan guarantees the right to own property for every man and womanin the country. However, many women due to lack of legal awareness and the financial capacityto pay ‘bribe’ have to fight for their due right to ‘inherit’. According to the Demographic andHealth Survey of Pakistan 2017-18, “97 per cent of women did not inherit land or a house, while1pc each inherited agricultural land and a house. Less than 1pc of women inherited nonagricultural plots or residential plots”
One such ordeal is of Bibi Sajida. In 2016, when Bibi Sajida’s father (Mian Ahmed) passed away,he left behind two wives, 6 sons and two daughters.Women Empower for the Fight Against CorruptionAfter Mian Ahmed died, his four sons from the first wife surreptitiously applied for the legalinheritance of their father’s property and bank accounts under the Pakistan Succession Act, 1925from the local court, claiming to be the only legal heirs of Mian Ahmed. Based on the successioncertificate, the four brothers obtained custody of the bank account of Mian Ahmed. The bankaccount had a deposit of Rs. 1500,000 . . …..(Read Full Story )
Fighting Corruption in the Public Sector
Corruption is a significant issue that affects government sand societies worldwide, including both developing and the developed world. Corruption hampers the overall development of a country and has far-reaching consequences. Corrupt practices prioritize personal interests of individuals in positions of power over the welfare of ordinary citizens. This leads to negative impact son the economy, impedes progress, and restricts access to essential services like healthcare and education, particularly for vulnerable populations.
In countries where corruption is prevalent, public trust in the government is often low. Thereby, it becomes imperative to safeguard taxpayer funds from being wasted due to corrupt practices. It is in this context that Transparency International Pakistan established Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre (ALAC) for more than a decade ago to provide platform to the victims, witnesses and whistleblowers of corruption to safely report corrupt practices. ALAC has reached out to 1000s of people across Pakistan and intervened on their behalf to seek redress for their grievances.
One such example is the case of corrupt practices in the Legal Directorate of Lahore Electric Supply Corporation(LESCO). On 10th May 2023, ALAC Pakistan received a whistleblower complaint regarding favoritism and corruption in the award of legal cases of Lahore Electric Supply Corporation (LESCO) to the selected lawyers by the Legal Directorate of the LESCO. The complainant alleged that certain officers within the legal directorate of LESCO were involved in corrupt practices, including receiving commissions for assigning legal cases to a handpicked panel of advocates. It was pointed out that LESCO, on 21December 2020, had already issued office order highlighting favoritism in selection of lawyers in court cases and required that no single lawyer on the panel of advocates will be given more than 100 pending court cases of LESCO with effect from 01-01-2021. (Read More)