IMF Flags Concerns About Politicized Anti Corruption Actions in Pakistan

A new governance and corruption assessment by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised serious concerns over Pakistan’s anti-corruption framework, warning that selective enforcement and abuse of authority have eroded public trust and undermined institutional effectiveness. According to the IMF report, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Pakistan’s principal anti-graft body, has “at times exceeded its mandate” by pursuing politically motivated cases and exercising sweeping, unchecked powers that infringe on individual rights. These practices, the report notes, have weakened the credibility of anti-corruption efforts and fueled public perception that bribery is unavoidable within a system burdened by bureaucracy and administrative hurdles. A 2024 government Task Force report cited by the IMF echoed similar concerns. It found that senior government officials often hesitate to exercise routine administrative discretion due to fears of NAB overreach and selective investigations. This reluctance, the report said, significantly affects government performance and decision-making. Despite these challenges, the IMF acknowledged that Pakistan has historically recognized the gravity of corruption. The country’s anti-corruption framework dates back to the 1947 Prevention of Corruption Act, and over the decades, institutions such as the NAB, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and provincial Anti-Corruption Establishments have been created to combat graft. High-profile convictions in recent years and the recovery of assets, amounting to approximately Rs. 5.31 trillion between January 2023 and December 2024, demonstrate that accountability efforts can reach the highest levels of government. Still, Pakistan continues to struggle compared with its regional peers. Experts cited in the report say the country’s ability to control corruption remains limited, with rent-seeking and bribery distorting both governance and macroeconomic stability. The IMF emphasized that strengthening institutional effectiveness should be Pakistan’s top priority. While some reforms are underway, the report states that “much more will be needed” to create an anti-corruption system that truly delivers results. One major gap lies in the absence of a national whistleblower protection framework. With the exception of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which enacted a whistleblower law in 2016, Pakistan currently lacks mechanisms to protect those who expose corruption. Previous attempts at federal legislation failed in 2019, but a new bill introduced in the National Assembly in April 2025 aims to establish an autonomous Whistleblower Protection and Vigilance Commission. The IMF noted that robust protections are crucial in a country where entrenched patronage networks often deter reporting by exposing whistleblowers to retaliation, harassment, or professional harm. Transparency also remains a challenge. Although the 2017 Right to Information Act strengthened Pakistan’s access-to-information regime and created the Pakistan Information Commission, implementation has been weak. Many public bodies either delay or reject information requests, frequently citing exemptions. Between 2022 and 2024, most appeals to the commission stemmed from requests involving major institutions such as the Capital Development Authority, NADRA, the Interior Ministry, NAB, FIA, and the Federal Board of Revenue. The IMF called for more proactive disclosure of government data, particularly budgets, expenditures, and procurement contracts, and urged state institutions to improve their responsiveness to information requests. Such reforms, it said, are essential to fostering transparency, bolstering civic oversight, and rebuilding public trust.