Workshops were conducted at Faisalabad, Lahore and Peshawar where Transparency International Pakistan had earlier signed Memorandum of Understanding with CBOs.
The first workshop was held on 17th January 2010 in Faisalabad. Rural Development Organization – RDO - had organized the event and over 40 participants attended. Corruption was the main topic and its negative impact on society. The audience was surprised to learn of the vast meaning of ‘Corruption’. They eagerly took part in the discussions. A suggestion was brought forward that a network of various NGOs should gather on one platform from which messages and actions could take place. In this manner the number of persons participating would be larger and the message passed would be to a wider area. RDO has set up another office in Faisalabad with a coordinator who will be working with TI-P and other NGOs in their network. Ms. Mirza of TI-P was given the honour of opening this office.
The second workshop was held in Lahore on the premises of Citizens’ Commission for Human Development on 19th January 2010. They had invited their social mobilizers, teachers and other members of society working with them. The outcome was that the persons attending the session were surprised at the vast definition of ‘Corruption’. Most of them had thought bribery was corruption. Later on the audience gave examples of problems they were facing and wanted to know how they could overcome them.
The 3rd Workshop was held in Peshawar at the office of Community Appraisal & Motivation Programme. They had invited their social mobilizers from their sub-offices in Manshera, Khyber Agency and Peshawar. The attendees were also made aware of Transparency International and Transparency International Pakistan’s agenda. They all stated that it was the need of the hour to fight corruption and they all would like to participate in it.
In Faisalabad the following NGOs were visited:-
- Human Freedom Organization, Faisalabad.
- Hera Foundation, Faisalabad & Jhang
- Association for Peace & Prosperity – Toba Tek Singh
- Council for Social Development – Jhang
- Chenab Welfare Society, Chinoit
- Maimar Development Organization, Faisalabad
In Lahore initial visit was made to Sahil. A visit was also made to ORIX Leasing Pakistan Limited to look into the possibility of a collaboration and using their personnel working in the micro-finance area (where loans are given to the poor) to pass our message onwards. This area is vast.
Rural Community Relief Organization and Community Research and Development Organization in Peshawar were visited.
Rural Development Organization – RDO
Faisalabad
The workshop was held on 17th January 2010 in Faisalabad at Food Garden. Rural Development Organization – RDO - had organized the event and over 40 RDO volunteers and other social activists attended it. Corruption was the main topic and its negative impact on society. The audience was surprised to learn of the vast meaning of ‘Corruption’.
The participants eagerly took part in the discussions. A suggestion was brought forward that a network of various NGOs should gather on one platform from which messages and actions could take place. In this manner, the number of persons participating would be larger and the message passed would be spread to a wider area.
RDO has set up another office in Faisalabad headed by a coordinator. This office will be a focal point in collecting corruption cases for onward processing to TI-P. Ms. Mirza of TI-P was given the honour of opening this office.
RDO has offered media support to each of its volunteers and network member NGO/CBO by offering to publish their Research/Report/News in the weekly publishing anti-corruption newspaper “Awami Samaat”.
Setting up of a Network for various NGOs/CBOs where they could share their findings and help each other in problematic areas. Support group would be formed.
Citizens’ Commission for Human Development -CCHD
Lahore
On 19th January 2010 a workshop was held at CCHD at their Lahore office. They had invited their social mobilizers, teachers and other members of society working with them. The persons attending the session were taken by surprise at the vast definition of ‘Corruption’. Most of them had thought bribery was corruption. The session was conducted by Ms. N.A. Mirza of Transparency International Pakistan.
The audience took part actively in the discussion and most of them said that they had gained a lot from it. Some of them gave examples of problems they were facing and wanted to know how they could overcome them. One of the problems they brought up was of Nadra Sahulat Centres. It seems fraud has taken place there as the bills payments there had been marked paid but the money was not sent to the utility companies and they getting notices showing them as defaulters.
The idea of making small groups to handle the problems was welcomed. The outreach of ALAC was also appreciated. They pledged to take TI-P message onwards.
Community Appraisal & Motivation Programme - CAMP
Peshawar
A workshop was held at the CAMP office in Peshawar on 22nd January 2010. This workshop was attended by fifteen of their social mobilizers.
The workshop was conducted by N.A. Mirza of Transparency International Pakistan–TI-P. She gave an introduction of Transparency International, TI-P and Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre-ALAC. The broad definition of the word “Corruption” was conveyed to them. They were amazed and stated that they never thought of this vast classification.
They also liked the formation of ALAC and said that the people at the grassroot level will have a platform from where they could get advice and help as most of them are unaware of their rights. Even in cases where they are aware of it they usually do not have the money to fight for their rights.
In the question answer session, everyone participated eagerly. Some of the suggestions made by them were:-
- A resource pool could be formed at the provincial headquarter level. This could act as a bridge between TI-P and other organizations in NWFP. The resource pool would pass TI-P’s message to like minded organizations through formal or non-formal trainings or interactive dialogues.
- 5 to 6 clusters could be formed in NWFP depending upon the geographical locations of the 24 districts of the Province.
- Teams of coordinators and communicators could be formed.
- Similar network can be set up in FATA too.
- Human Freedom Organization, Faisalabad.
- Hera Foundation, Faisalabad & Jhang
- Association for Peace & Prosperity – Toba Tek Singh
- Council for Social Development – Jhang
- Chenab Welfare Society, Chinoit
- Maimar Development Organization, Faisalabad
- SAHIL, Lahore
- Community Research and Development Organization, Peshawar
- Rural Community Relief Organization, Peshawar
- ORIX Leasing Pakistan Limited, Lahore
Initial Visits were made to the following: