The Department of the AGP has introduced international Best Practices and Standards in delivering its services. These practices have shifted the audit focus from the traditional transaction-based audit to a system based approach to certification and performance audits and evaluations. These practices and standards have helped the department in catering for the needs of the stakeholders. They have not only helped in improving the quality of work but also ensured reduction in time needed to present audit reports to the President. This has contributed to greater transparency and accountability in the public sector.

The following paragraphs provide an overview of different reform initiatives undertaken by the department.

POLICY BOARD :

The wide range of changes, brought about by information technology initiatives in the financial, budgeting, accounting and auditing systems, had to be synchronized with policy guidelines. In response to this need, the Auditor General of Pakistan formed a Policy Board under his chairmanship that comprises the CGA, the Additional Auditors General, all the Deputy Auditors General, and other senior officers.

The Policy Board has been mandated to guide the SAI in its efforts for modernization by conceptualizing the reform agenda and ensuring that the strategic objectives and core values of the Department are duly embedded in all future planning and implementation strategies.

Addressing the first meeting of the Policy Board on May 16, 2008, the Auditor General of Pakistan emphasized that reforms could only be sustained through ownership and team effort. He stated that designing the reform alone was not enough. The crucial part was implementation. Highlighting the fact that even excellent reform programs had failed in the past due to flawed implementation, he expressed the resolve to ensure observance of due diligence in every process and at each stage of implementation.

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Contacts:

Jamal Abdul Nasir Usmani
Secretary Policy Board
Phone: 92 051 9222354
FAX: 92 051 9224085