By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – The latest report released by Transparency International on Friday has labeled Pakistan as one of the most corrupt countries in the world where the menace is prevalent across all sectors of government, judiciary and society.
According to the report released earlier this week, Pakistan ranked 135 out of 180 countries on the Corruption Perception Index in 2024.
The CPI ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption on a scale of zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). In the anti-corruption watchdog’s latest CPI, Pakistan scores only 27, a clear indication of growing corruption in the country.
It highlighted details from the report, several Pakistani analysts have lashed out at the current government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
In 2022, the Election Commission of Pakistan had disqualified former Prime Minister Imran Khan from the Parliament and initiated legal proceedings for indulging in corrupt practices.
Two years later, Sharif’s government is also facing similar allegations of corruption.
Pakistani court acquitted Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shehbaz of corruption charges in an eight-year-old corruption case after the complainant disassociated himself from it.
Severe economic crisis in Pakistan is being listed as a major factor contributing to the current condition.
People are struggling to afford basic necessities, including healthcare as inflation rises.
The country’s economy also continues to survive on borrowed money from international agencies and friendly countries.
In 2023, Pakistan narrowly escaped from defaulting International Monetary Fund loans. In 2024, IMF approved $7 billion to Pakistan under a 37-month loan programme, with $1 billion earmarked for immediate disbursement.
IMF team visited Pakistan to scrutinise the judicial and regulatory system of Pakistan, as part of the ongoing $7 billion Extended Fund Facility to address governance and corruption vulnerabilities.
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