AS International Anti-Corruption Day was observed on Tuesday, with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirming their commitment to honesty, good governance, and combating corruption, the reality on the ground remains far from reassuring.
The release of the National Corruption Perception Survey (NCPS) 2025 by Transparency International Pakistan (TIP) paints a grim picture of corruption permeating across different sectors.
The survey reveals that the public is deeply dissatisfied with the government’s efforts to curb corruption, with 77% of those surveyed expressing their discontent. The police, often the first point of contact for the public with the state, have consistently been identified as a major source of corruption. Similarly, the judicial system, which is meant to ensure justice and uphold the rule of law, is perceived to be compromised by corrupt practices. The procurement and tendering processes, critical for transparent government contracts and the allocation of resources, are also riddled with corruption, leading to a lack of accountability in public spending. These issues contribute to an overwhelming sense of dissatisfaction among the public. The impact of corruption extends beyond the public sector into essential services like healthcare, where bribes and inefficiencies undermine the delivery of care, and into critical economic processes, where corruption distorts market forces and hinders fair competition. One of the key areas where reform is urgently needed is in the police and judiciary. Both institutions are critical to ensuring rule of law and justice, yet they are seen as breeding grounds for bribery, nepotism, and favoritism. Reforming these sectors should be a priority, with a focus on transparency, accountability, and better training for law enforcement officers and judicial officials. Independent oversight and regular audits must become the norm, rather than the exception. In this era of technology, solutions are available to tackle many forms of corruption. E-procurement, for example, can be a game-changer in addressing corruption in government contracts and tenders. Corruption not only undermines the credibility of institutions but also erodes public trust in the government. For Pakistan to move forward, there must be a zero-tolerance policy towards corrupt practices. Only through consistent and meaningful reforms can we hope to rebuild public confidence and chart a path toward true governance reform.
