ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has joined the rank of 70-member countries Open Government Partnership (OGP) in Paris.
This was announced by Finance Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar at the opening ceremony of the 3-day 4th OGP Summit held in Paris.
A statement issued by the Ministry of Finance here said finance minister who is currently visiting Paris handed Pakistan’s Letter of Intent to join OGP to the President of French Republic in the inaugural ceremony of the Summit which was chaired by the French president. Few other countries including Luxembourg, Morocco, Burkina Faso and Jamaica also announced their decision to join the OGP.
During his announcement speech, finance minister reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to the four key principles of the OGP including fiscal transparency, access to information, asset disclosures and citizen engagement.
He added that the government of Pakistan has pledged to work against corruption and fiscal fraud and is prepared to make further high level commitments to fully achieving and sustaining the principles of the OGP.
The summit aimed at promotion of transparency, accountability and citizen participation was attended by a large number of Heads of States and governments, ministers and civil society representatives to push forward the open government agenda in light of the global challenges.
Later the minister attended a reception hosted by French Foreign Minister Jean Marc Ayrault.
The OGP was launched in 2011 to provide an international platform for domestic reformers committed to make their governments more open, accountable and responsive to citizens. Since then, the OGP has grown from 8 countries to the 70 participating countries including the USA, the UK, France, Canada, Indonesia, Turkey and Sri Lanka.
