Weekly Update: South Asia

Afghanistan – On May 8, CIPE honored Basir Ahmad Hamaid, one of the winners of CIPE’s 2011 Global Editorial Cartoon Competition, which aimed to highlight democracy issues, fight corruption, and promote gender equality. Hamaid donated his $1,000 award to the Afghan Red Crescent Society.

Afghanistan – This week, CIPE distributed 50,000 textbooks to 10th, 11th and 12th grade students in the Tashabos youth entrepreneurship course, which is taught in 44 high schools in Kabul, Parwan, Bamiyan, and Nangahar provinces.

Pakistan – CIPE Pakistan Country Director Moin Fudda chaired a panel discussion organized by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan on the role of accountants in enhancing corporate governance in public sector enterprises. Over 200 chartered accountants attended the event, at which Fudda highlighted CIPE’s work in drafting a code of corporate governance for state-owned enterprises in Pakistan. Fudda also discussed CIPE’s role in the launch of a code of corporate governance for listed companies and CIPE’s work on strengthening corporate governance in family-owned firms.

Pakistan – As part of its engagement with political parties on economic policy issues, the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce hosted a meeting with the main economic advisors from the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), which is Pakistan’s major opposition party, to discuss the party’s plan for economic reform in Pakistan. Ishaq Dar, former Finance Minister and head of the PML(N) economic team, presented his party’s agenda to the business community. The event was covered by local media, including http://dawn.com/2012/05/08/alternative-sources-vital-to-resolve-energy-crisis/ and http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=154449. CIPE has been working with its partners among Pakistani chambers to encourage them to play a more active role in economic policy advocacy.