Workshop: Enhancing Capacity of CSOs and WBOs on Social Accountability Tools for Good Governance
Venue: University of the Punjab, Lahore, Punjab
Date: August 19, 2025

Transparency International Pakistan (TI P) partnered with Social Development Initiatives (SDI) Lahore to conduct a capacity-building workshop at the University of the Punjab. The training focused on anti-corruption mechanisms and social accountability tools for local civil society organizations, women-led groups, journalists, and government officials.

The session began with a recitation from the Holy Quran. Mr. Mian Shahid Nadeem, Executive Director, SDI, welcomed attendees and expressed gratitude to TI Pakistan for organizing the event. Mr. Saad Aalam Angaria, Assistant Project Coordinator, TI Pakistan, started with a pre-workshop assessment to gauge participants’ existing knowledge of social accountability. He then led an interactive discussion on core principles such as citizen participation, transparency, and government accountability. He emphasized that social accountability relies on an active and informed citizenry.

Mr. Angaria also detailed the practical use of social accountability tools, including the Right to Information (RTI) law. He explained how the Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act 2013 empowers citizens to request information from public bodies. Participants took part in a mock exercise where they drafted sample RTI applications to various government departments.

A dedicated session covered whistleblower protections in Pakistan. Mr. Angaria outlined existing laws and recent developments, including the Whistleblowers Protection and Vigilance Commissions Act 2025, proposed by TI Pakistan and recently approved by the Senate. He noted that Punjab currently lacks standalone whistleblower legislation but has incorporated related provisions within departmental level rules. He highlighted that TI Pakistan has also submitted a draft whistleblower law to the Punjab government for enactment.

Participants engaged actively with thoughtful questions and expressed strong support for the establishment of an independent whistleblower commission at the provincial level.

Moving forward, Dr. Arshad Abbasi, Assistant Professor at the University of Punjab, delivered closing remarks on the ethical dimensions of anti-corruption work. He stressed the importance of continued training to strengthen social accountability and good governance practices. He encouraged more frequent workshops to deepen understanding and sustain momentum.

The workshop concluded with a post-training assessment. Attendees praised the session and highlighted the need for more capacity-building programs that enable local organizations to become effective advocates for transparency and accountability.