The Corruption Perception Index, released annually by Transparency International, once again gives an indication of how dismal Pakistan’s efforts at fighting the scourge of corruption have been. We have the same score – 32 – as last year, which places us at a ranking of 117 out of 180 countries. It is worth noting that the CPI does not measure actual corruption in a country. Rather, it compiles its scores based on surveys and data from international organisations. What the CPI shows is that internationally Pakistan’s reputation as a country is dismal. Among the indices used by the CPI are the assessments released by the World Bank, and indexes compiled by respected NGOs like the World Justice Project. The CPI shows there is a link between a country’s respect for human rights and the level of corruption believed to exist in the country. Countries which do not protect the freedom of the press and allow NGOs to operate freely tend to be seen as the most corrupt. Pakistan is particularly poor in both regards. It has frequently been one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists and critics of the state are frequently targeted. The government has also made it particularly difficult for international NGOs to work without hindrance, using onerous registration rules to cancel the licences of many credible organisations.
It shouldn’t take a low ranking from an NGO for us to finally become serious about the fight against corruption but, failing all else, this assessment by Transparency International should spur us into action. The major finance-related scandal in Pakistan over the past few years has been the release of the Panama Papers, which showed how hundreds of wealthy individuals had used offshore accounts to hide their assets and evade taxes. But our response to the Panama Papers has been to use it as a means to target one individual and his family, and broad-based legislation suggested by the government to hold the corrupt accountable has stalled in parliament. We should also keep in mind that corruption in Pakistan is a systemic problem that cannot be solved with a change of government. Every institution in the country is seen as corrupt and there is a widespread – and accurate – perception that the wealthy and connected play by a different set of rules. It is tackling this problem, and not simply taking action against a few convenient individuals, that will try lead to reform.
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