KP govt unveils ‘Amr Bil Maroof’ plan to combat corruption

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has unveiled the ‘Amr Bil Maroof’ plan aimed at eradicating corruption and fostering a culture of integrity in society.

Speaking at a press conference, Adviser to Chief Minister on Anti-Corruption Brigadier (Retd) Musaddiq Abbasi said that as part of this initiative, the provincial administration would introduce necessary changes to the educational curriculum to instill moral values in future leadership.

He said that ethical cells would be established within government departments and organizations, while committees would be formed at the district, tehsil, and union council levels to implement the plan effectively.

He said that the prevention of corruption was best achieved through the Islamic principle of ‘Amr Bil Maroof’, which focused on raising awareness, eliminating opportunities for corruption, and enforcing relevant laws.

He said that the primary goal of the newly launched plan was to instill a strong societal aversion to corruption, enhance moral values, and shape the character of future leaders. “The plan will be implemented on a long-term basis,” he added.

Abbasi outlined key components of the initiative, including curriculum revisions from school to university levels to promote ethical awareness and educate students about the harmful effects of corruption. Committees will be formed at the district, tehsil, and village/neighbourhood council levels, incorporating various segments of society to ensure widespread participation.

An ‘Amr Bil Maroof’ cell will be established within the Auqaf Department to foster anti-corruption sentiment, he said, adding that ethical cells would be introduced in public sector associations and unions to promote merit and transparency in government organizations. Awareness campaigns would be launched to uphold high standards of integrity within public institutions, he added.

The plan also includes an annual Anti-Corruption Week every December, coordinated by the Information and Public Relations Department to ensure extensive media coverage of anti-corruption initiatives. To evaluate the effectiveness of awareness campaigns, a dedicated coordination directorate will be set up, which will also conduct third-party surveys annually to assess progress and recommend improvements.

As part of the reforms in educational institutions, morning assemblies in schools will now include three mandatory elements: the recitation of the Holy Quran, the national anthem, and the recitation of Darood Sharif (blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad Peace be upon him) three times.

Libraries will be made compulsory in all schools, and at the higher education level, universities will be required to establish an ‘Iqbal Chair’ to promote the teachings of Allama Iqbal.Additionally, a Rahmatul-lil-Alameen Research Center will be set up to further moral and ethical studies.

To encourage research on character-building and anti-corruption awareness, universities will be encouraged to incorporate relevant projects in their academic programs. Every government and private university will be required to hold at least one seminar every six months on the themes of character development and anti-corruption awareness. Similarly, workshops will be organized biannually, where young participants will be invited to share suggestions for societal improvement.

At the district level, reformatory groups will be formed under the supervision of the deputy commissioner, while committees will also be established at the mosque, village, and neighborhood council levels. These initiatives aim to create a more transparent and ethically strong society by addressing corruption from its roots.