Where does the budget money go and how can every citizen check it? Every citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan pays taxes. These funds are used to form the state budget, which is used to build schools and hospitals, repair roads, purchase medicines, ensure safety and other socially important tasks. But people often have a question: how exactly is budget money spent and is it possible to check it? The answer is yes, you can. And anyone can do it.

What is public procurement? Public procurement is a process in which government agencies and organizations purchase goods, works, and services from the budget. Simply put: • buy furniture for schools; • medicines for hospitals; • Road repair services; • meals for kindergartens; • Equipment for government agencies. All such purchases are conducted in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Public Procurement, which establishes the principles of transparency, openness and equal access for businesses.

Where can I view the purchase information? All information on public procurement is publicly available on the Public Procurement Portal of the Republic of Kazakhstan. On the portal you can see: • which organizations carry out purchases; • how much has the purchase been announced for; • who submitted the applications; • who is recognized as the winner; • at what price was the contract concluded; • Texts of agreements and protocols. Access to this information is free and does not require a special status.

Why is this important? Transparency of public procurement is one of the mechanisms of public control. Since the budget is formed at the expense of citizens' taxes, everyone has the right: • know where the funds are going; • monitor the effectiveness of their use; • Report possible violations. Openness of information reduces corruption risks and increases trust in government institutions.

What should I do if I have any doubts? If a citizen believes that violations were committed during the procurement, he can contact: • the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan • to the Anti-Corruption Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan • Through the Open Government portal, citizens' appeals are subject to mandatory consideration in accordance with the procedure established by law. Common myths Myth 1: "Public procurement is a closed system." In practice, the procedures are carried out in electronic form and are publicly available. Myth 2: "Only your own people win." The winner is determined based on the requirements of the documentation and the legislation. Myth 3: "An ordinary person can't check anything." Any citizen can study the information on the portal and ask a question through official channels.

Conclusion Public procurement is not an abstract system, but a mechanism for spending public funds. Transparency and open access to information allow every citizen to participate in public control. Awareness is the first step towards building a legal culture and strengthening the principle of legality.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/zhetysu-sp/press/news/details/1184951?lang=kk