PIFRA-Enabling Better Financial Management.

Aa part of external communication strategy, the Communication and Change Management  unit of PIFRA organized a high profile and successful seminar with the theme “PIFRA- Enabling Better Financial Management", on 25th January 2008 at Hotel Serena Islamabad.

A Mega event, attended by the  Federal Principal Accounting Officers (PAO’s), Additional Federal Secretaries and other high ranking officials. The Chairman Federal Board of Revenue Mr. Abdullah Yousaf and former Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, Dr. Ishrat Hussain were also present. The prime objective was to have an interactive session with the stakeholders, where the vision and strategic goals of PIFRA, potential benefits and implementation prospects to the  Federal Divisions already online were highlighted. The key note address was delivered by the Auditor General of Pakistan Mr. Tanwir Ali Agha, in which he stressed that the aim of the seminar was to seek better relationship with the stake holders, understanding the clients and improved communication in order to make the most out of PIFRA.

He said that the Financial Audit Manual (FAM) would be implemented fully by the end of this year to ensure compliance to international standards in audit. He added that PIFRA was established with an aim to modernize Public Sector Accounting and Auditing in Pakistan in harmony with international best practices.  The Auditor General said that all provincial governments have adopted the New Accounting Model (NAM) developed under PIFRA-I. He stressed that the transition path of PIFRA reforms requires a paradigm shift in our process, mindsets and outcomes. It requires immense work, planning ,training sequencing and continuous monitoring at all levels.

Further more, he said  that PIFRA reforms envisage development and implementation of new audit methodology through which audit is to be conducted as per INTOSAI auditing standards using computer assisted audit techniques (CAATs).                            

Brief presentations on PIFRA were delivered by Financial Accounting and Budgeting System (FABS) and Audit Components PIFRA which covered the achievements of PIFRA. Future prospects were shared with stakeholders, followed by display of real time online Methodology being introduced under PIFRA.

An interactive discussion followed, where the participants asked questions regarding the reforms in discussions. The basic idea of such an interactive session was to strengthen communication, increase stake holder’s awareness, promote sense of ownership and try to remove any misperceptions regarding PIFRA.
The Seminar was overall covered by state as well as private media. News story of the seminar was also carried-out by many leading daily news papers and TV channels.        
Keeping in view the resounding success of such a seminar with top level stake holders at the Federal level, the Communication and Change Management unit PIFRA is now planning to replicate the theme at the provincial head quarters for the provincial Governments and stakeholders.