26 May 2026 –

Organization’s profile

Established in 2008, CPDI is a civil society organization with focus on, among others, promoting right to information, transparency in governance, electoral reforms, budget transparency, local governance, civic engagement, climate action and public accountability.

CPDI has extensive experience of capacity building, community mobilization and engagement with supply side institutions including legislatures, political parties, Federal, provincial and local governments, information commissions, and various accountability forums like Ombudspersons and anti-corruption bodies at various levels.

CPDI and/ or Executive Director, Mukhtar Ahmad Ali, has also been engaged in public interest litigation, especially with focus on right to information (e.g., https://www.dawn.com/news/1781419, https://www.dawn.com/news/1878581, https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1122549-in-a-first-sc-releases-information-under-article-19-a).

Over the years, CPDI has worked on a vast range of projects funded by
donors like the EU, UNDP, USAID, NED, GIZ, DRL, Global Affairs Canada, TARA Foundation and FCDO.

Organization’s Experience

CPDI has been an active member of the Coalition since May 2021, and its Executive Director, Mukhtar Ahmad Ali, has served on the CCC of the Coalition from 2024-26. Its staff members have extensive experience of conducting or contributing to UNCAC- related activities (e.g., on right to information, budget transparency, political finance reforms, strengthening civic engagement) in Pakistan and have been attending numerous online/ in-person activities organized by the Coalition.

Over the last four years, CPDI’s Executive Director has attended multiple conference of States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption held in Atlanta (USA) in 2023, and in Doha (Qatar) in 2025. CPDI has extensive experience of working on right to information, budget transparency, political finance reforms, civic engagement and transparent governance in Pakistan. Its staff members have served as civil society representatives on official committees that drafted right to information and whistle-blower protection bills, as well as members of information commissions.

In 2017, CPDI facilitated the establishment of the Forum of Information Commissioners and, since then, it has been facilitating its meetings to discuss civil society feedback and have regular exchange of experiences, challenges, and best practices. It also files or facilitates journalists and CSO activists in filing information requests and, if needed, files complaints to information commissions – some of which have exposed significant inefficiencies and corrupt practices leading to certain administrative/ policy reforms.

Top 3 Priorities to Achieve as a CCC Member

1. Enhanced availability of resources and capacity of the Hub team to extend technical assistance to national partners in country-specific research/ tracking and policy level engagement.
2. Greater facilitation for enhanced cooperation among members in regions including for engaging regional organizations to promote anti-corruption.
3. More robust advocacy for effective UNCAC review mechanisms and transnational cooperation to combat corruption.

Candidate’s profile

The Executive Director of CPDI, Mr. Mukhtar Ahmad Ali, has over 25 years of experience in the public and development sectors with focus on right to information, budget transparency, political finance, democratic development, local governments, and electoral reforms.

He is a prominent right to information activist, who has led or extensively contributed to numerous relevant capacity building, policy advocacy, and public awareness programs. He has served as Information Commissioner in the Punjab province of Pakistan, and as Chief of Party and Team Leader of large governance focused USAID and UKAID funded projects. He has also served on the boards of prominent CSOs like the Trust for Democratic Education Accountability (TDEA), Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) and Institute of Rural Management (IRM). He has served on the Advisory Committee of the Federal Tax Ombudsman; and has contributed to drafting of official bills on the right to information and whistle-blowers’ protection.

He is a visiting faculty of the National Institute of Management (NIM); National Management College (NMC); Balochistan Civil Service Academy (BCSA); Local Government Academy; and the Federal Election Academy (FEA). He has an M. Phil degree in Development Studies
(with distinction) from the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), University of Sussex, UK.

He has also served on the CCC of the Coalition during 2024-26, and as chair of the CCC during 2025-26.

Contributions to the work of the Coalition

By using my experience of working on large projects, I would contribute to the Coalition in strengthening its policy and procedural framework, building institutional capacity of the Vienna Hub and enhancing funds mobilization efforts for greater outreach, engagement and sustainability.

I would like to particularly help in promoting (a) greater technical assistance to national partners in country-specific research and policy engagement; (b) facilitation of enhanced cooperation among CSOs across countries in various regions; and (c) more robust advocacy with governments and multilateral forums for effective transnational cooperation to combat corruption.

Candidacy & Interest Disclosure