December 28, 2002	Saturday	Shawwal 23, 1423

ISLAMABAD, Dec 27: Prime Minister’s Adviser on Finance Shaukat Aziz has said the government was committed to introducing transparency at federal, provincial and districts levels to collect adequate taxes.

At the same time, he expressed the hope that the autonomous office of Auditor General would ensure quality management of accounts and also ensure that the government funds were spent in transparent and effective manner.

Talking to a group of 38 probationers of Audit and Account Service, he said recent restructuring of Audit and Account Service, separating the two from each other, would establish an effective system of financial management within the country and help overcome wastage of money through prudent spending and planning.

He urged the probationers to inculcate with themselves professionalism, transparency, integrity, humility, inter- personal skills and teamwork for a result oriented behaviour to serve the public by eliminating chances of misuse of public fund.

“You have a thrilling professional carrier awaiting you to deliver to the country the best audit and account system.”

He said now as public servants they must ensure that public money was spent with prudence, more judiciously than, “your own money and the system of check and balances introduced in audit and account service functioned properly”.

The probationers who were briefed in the Ministry of Finance about inter-provincial matters, including NFC, budgeting, auditing, internal and external finance and monetary policies, were also given a comprehensive briefing on financial and structural reforms introduced in the country.

Mr Shaukat said now Pakistan had achieved macroeconomic stability, which would now lead to growth and job creation. In spite of world recession, severe

Transparency in tax collection drought, tension on borders and post-Sept 11 scenario, Pakistan was poised for 4.5pc GDP growth, which is likely to exceed 5 per cent in the next financial year.

This would generate economic activity, reduce unemployment and restrict inflation. The growth is being triggered by agriculture and manufacturing sector. “Apart from that, remittances of overseas Pakistanis are likely to exceed to $3 billion marks, balance of payment position is comfortable, current accounts balance is in surplus, exchange rate is stable, stock exchange is buoyant and FDI during the current financial year is likely to cross $0.5 billion.”

As a result of this macroeconomic stability, the government has reduced interest rates, which would generate economic activity, save on government’s borrowing both on external and internal sides and help increase PSDP. Also Pakistan was in the last programme of IMF and with completion of PRGF by the end 2004, the country would not need any further bitter medicine to sustain upon.

“Notwithstanding, the government cannot be complacent, it has to stay the curse of reforms, continue to reorient its agenda to optimize its results and vigorously pursue a path for a better and comfortable economic future leading to total economic sovereignty,” the adviser said.

He said that PIFRA-II is in the progress. This programme would help modernize the audit and account system at the district, provincial and federal level. Through this programme, the government aims at upgrading the skills, introduced interpersonal management and IT technology in the country.