Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation in public sector auditing.
The move is said to have been geared towards strengthening collaboration between their audit institutions through training programs, as well as exchange of expertise.
The agreement was observed to have been formalized during a four-day visit by a Saudi delegation from the General Court of Audit (GCA), led by its President Hussam bin Abdulmohsen Al-Angari.
According to a statement from the Auditor-General of Pakistan’s (AGP) office, the MoU seeks to promote knowledge-sharing, improve governance, and ensure greater transparency and accountability in government spending.
“This collaboration marks a significant step toward fostering international cooperation in auditing.The exchange of ideas and methodologies will undoubtedly strengthen our capacity to meet emerging challenges and set new benchmarks for public accountability.” AGP Gonda, said
Discussions between the two sides, was noticed to have been focused on advancing relations between their Supreme Audit Institutions, sharing innovative auditing techniques, and planning future joint initiatives.
The agreement includes provisions for sharing best practices in audit standards, performance audits, and citizen participatory audits, as well as enhancing expertise in thematic, environmental, and impact audits.
The two countries also agreed to collaborate on training programs, exchange trainers, and undertake cooperative audits, including a performance audit of the oil and gas sector in 2025.
Dr. Alangari praised Pakistan’s efforts in modernizing audit practices and expressed optimism about future collaborations.
“The partnership between our two SAIs is a testament to the shared vision of accountability and transparency. We are eager to build upon this momentum and address challenges collectively, ensuring value addition to public sector auditing globally,” he stated.
The Saudi government, ob it part, side announced the launch of the second phase of the Fund for Improved SAI Performance (FISP), set to begin in mid-February.
The agreement further solidifies Pakistan and Saudi Arabia’s close economic and strategic ties.
It would be recalled that last October, the two nations signed 34 agreements worth $2.8 billion, reinforcing their longstanding partnership.