LAHORE: Accountability in Pakistan has seen mixed progress, with some areas showing improvement while others continue to lag behind. While there have been pockets of progress, the overarching challenge remains ensuring that accountability is applied equitably across all groups and sectors in the country.
These improvements, however, are overshadowed by the fact that influential sectors and groups often evade accountability. In recent years, the government has attempted to enhance accountability through technology. Initiatives such as the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) Track and Trace system and electronic filing systems aim to reduce human interference in tax collection. Similarly, digital monitoring of public services, including e-governance initiatives in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), reflects a move towards greater transparency.
The judiciary has also played a more proactive role in holding public officials accountable for corruption and negligence. High-profile cases involving politicians and public officials have brought issues of corruption into the public spotlight.
Agencies like the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) have launched investigations into major financial irregularities, targeting public sector projects and political corruption. Provincial accountability bodies, such as the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Punjab, have also become more active in recent years.
Social media has further empowered citizens to report corruption and mismanagement, while investigative journalism continues to expose malfeasance in both the public and private sectors.
Despite these efforts, political parties often use accountability as a weapon against rivals rather than as a tool for justice. Loopholes in the judicial system allow powerful politicians to delay cases for years, often escaping punishment altogether.
Cartelisation in industries such as sugar, cement and pharmaceuticals persists, despite public outcry. Collusion between regulators and influential business owners often shields them from penalties. Judicial accountability is similarly weak, with little oversight of judges’ conduct. Allegations of bias, corruption and inefficiency within the judiciary rarely result in significant action.
Smuggling through porous borders -- such as the illegal movement of fuel, electronics, and luxury goods -- continues unchecked, fuelled by corruption in customs and border control. The informal economy thrives without proper regulation or taxation. Illegal land acquisitions and unauthorised housing societies, often backed by influential individuals, remain difficult to regulate. Urbanisation has exacerbated these issues, particularly in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.
Wealthy individuals and businesses with large non-performing loans (NPLs) to banks frequently avoid repayment or prosecution due to political and social connections.
Challenges to comprehensive accountability include selective enforcement, with measures often targeting opposition groups while sparing allies of those in power. Corruption and lack of capacity in institutions such as NAB and FBR hinder effective enforcement. Nepotism, patronage systems, and entrenched societal norms further protect powerful individuals. Over time, public disillusionment with the lack of fair and consistent accountability has eroded trust in the system.
To move forward, Pakistan must strengthen institutional autonomy and shield accountability mechanisms from interference. Ensuring accountability is uniformly applied across all sectors is critical. Transparency can be enhanced through technology and digitisation, while empowering civil society and the media to act as watchdogs will strengthen the system. Finally, imposing harsh penalties for corruption is essential to deter this pervasive menace.