Addressing a key demand from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the government on Thursday released the Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Assessment report, which stated that corruption remains a “permanent challenge” in Pakistan. The report, issued by the Federal Finance Ministry ahead of the IMF’s Executive Board meeting early next month, highlighted the detrimental impact of corruption on the national economy. “Corruption exists at every level of government,” the report noted, adding that Pakistan could reap significant economic benefits through improved governance. “By implementing the governance reforms package, the country could see its GDP grow by 5 to 6.5 percent over the next five years.” The IMF has recommended several measures for Pakistan, including enhancing the autonomy of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to investigate high-level corruption. It also suggested the creation of a centralized authority for the declaration of assets by elected representatives. In addition, the IMF recommended better coordination and information-sharing between the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), NAB, and the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) to strengthen oversight and accountability. Likewise, a recommendation has been made to enhance the capacity of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to investigate the crimes related to corruption. Similarly, the IMF has asked Pakistan to increase the autonomy of the provincial anti-corruption establishment (ACE), accountability courts and making public the assets of federal government bureaucrats from 2026. A recommendation has also been made to establish Whistleblower Protection and Vigilance Commission.
Government Report Labels Corruption a ‘Permanent Challenge’ in Pakistan
