In 2023, Pakistan’s Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) ranking experienced a noteworthy improvement during the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)-led government, led by Shehbaz Sharif.
This positive shift suggests a decline in corruption compared to Imran Khan’s tenure from 2018 to 2022, where corruption had been on the rise according to previous TI reports.
Despite being deemed more corrupt under the shared rule of Shehbaz Sharif and Imran Khan in the 2022 CPI report, the TI’s 2023 findings reveal a positive turn.
Pakistan climbed from 140th to 133rd out of 180 countries, with its overall score rising from 27 to 29. This marks an improvement of 7 positions and a 2-point increase in the CPI score.
The report attributes this progress to strong judicial oversight, acknowledging the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s role in expanding citizens’ right to information.
It emphasized that, despite facing challenges like debt burdens and political instability, the government is being kept in check through judicial measures.
PML-N, in response to the report, claimed that after four years of corruption under Imran Khan, the country successfully addressed the issue during Shehbaz Sharif’s tenure as Prime Minister.
Justice (retd) Zia Perwez, chair of Transparency International Pakistan, called the improvement encouraging and credited it to anti-corruption efforts across various state pillars.
Perwez urged governments to ensure justice systems’ independence, transparency, and resources to effectively combat corruption.
Transparency International emphasized the need for better procedures and laws to empower justice institutions to target and prevent corrupt acts.
