Daily Times

The FCDO-funded, Oxford Policy Management’s Sub-National Governance (SNG) Programme, in collaboration with the Government of Punjab (GoPb), hosted a pivotal seminar focused on Socially Inclusive and Gender-Responsive Planning and Budgeting. The event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including government officials, international development partners, and civil society representatives, to discuss the strides made in promoting equality and inclusiveness in public finance decisions in Punjab.

The opening session featured insightful contributions from Ms. Namana Gulrukh Fareed, Accountant General of Punjab; Mr. Usman Ali Khan, Secretary of the Women Development Department, Punjab; and Mr. Andrew Bowden, Group Head of Open Societies and Effective Institutions at FCDO and Ms. Saba Ali, Senior Chief ECA / Chief Environment & Climate Change, Planning & Development Board, Government of Punjab. These contributions set the stage for an engaging discussion on how gender-responsive planning and budgeting can enhance equitable development.

The seminar highlighted key reforms introduced by the SNG Programme since 2019, particularly the development of a Gender Budget Tagging & Expenditure Tracking (GBT&ET) methodology. This innovation enables the government to track and assess the extent of its investments aimed at reducing gender disparity and promoting women’s empowerment.

A distinguished panel of experts shared further insights into the impact of GBT&ET and other SNG-supported reforms, including revisions to the Annual Development Programme (ADP) guidelines and enhanced citizen engagement mechanisms. Panelists included Ms. Khawar Mumtaz, former Chairperson of the National Commission on the Status of Women; Dr. Yasmin Zaidi, Team Lead for Aawaz II; Dr. Kaiser Bengali, Economist; and Mr. Nauman Yousaf, Chairman of the Punjab Revenue Authority. Mr. Irfan Mufti, Deputy Executive Director of SAP-PK, served as moderator, guiding discussions on the transformative effects of inclusive budgeting on public finance decisions in Punjab.

These discussions emphasized the ongoing efforts to create a more equitable and inclusive budgeting process in Punjab, addressing the needs of marginalised groups and ensuring that development projects create opportunities for all. Representatives from the Government of Punjab reiterated their commitment to institutionalising GBT&ET and strengthening efforts toward gender-responsive and socially inclusive budgeting. “Through GBT&ET, we are improving our ability to promote gender parity in Punjab,” said Mehreen Siddiqi, A&I Advisor for SNG Punjab.

The seminar concluded with a roadmap for the consolidation of these reforms, ensuring their sustainability and continued impact in Punjab’s public finance landscape.