Safety for whistle-blowers demanded

Islamabad:Civil society organisations, legal experts, and concerned citizens have called for immediate and robust legislation to protect whistle-blowers in Pakistan, urging the government to enact a comprehensive Whistle-blower Protection Act. This act is crucial for safeguarding individuals who expose corruption, fraud, and misconduct in both public and private sectors, and to foster a culture of accountability and transparency.

The demand was made for a Whistle-blower Protection Act to protect the whistle blowers in response to the cases related to corruption. The absence of legal protection has discouraged individuals from reporting irregularities, thereby allowing corrupt practices to flourish unchecked.

Syed Kausar Abbas, executive director of the Sustainable Social Development Organisation (SSDO), stated, “Whistle-blowers are essential to holding institutions accountable and ensuring transparency. The lack of protection for these courageous individuals is a significant barrier to rooting out corruption and malpractice in Pakistan. We strongly urge the government to introduce and enact legislation that will ensure the safety and security of whistle-blowers.”