According to the latest report of the Transparency International, Pakistan is the only country in the South Asian region that has improved its rank by three points on the Corruption Perceptions Index. At least four countries in the region scored the same or less points as compared to their scores in 2014. There is not point to be proud of the improvement in the ranking as corruption is still rife and Pakistan is still in the red zone of the most corrupt countries in the world. In its report on CPI 2015, the Transparency Internationalhas increased Pakistan’s score by one point to 30 in the list of the most corruption countries. However, it upgraded its rank by three and called for further steps to improve its performanceby adopting zero tolerance policy against corruption. The Pakistani chapter of the transparency has already recommended various measures to control corruption and improve the country’s rank on the world corruption index. The index covers corruption perceptions in public sector organizations in 168 countries.
The CPI 2015 makes it clear that corruption can be defeated if the government has the will and commitment to rid the nation of this menace. Corruption prevails in government departments of the country, but many countries have improved their scores in the 2015. According to the latest edition of the CPI issued by the Transparency International, two-thirds of the 168 countries on the 2015 index have scored below 50 on a scale that begins from zero — perceived to be highly corrupt to 100 — that perceived to be very clean. The anti-corruption activists in Guatemala, Sri Lanka and Ghana have stepped up their efforts to stamp out corruption from their countries. Brazil has shown bigger improvement in the index, shedding five points and dropping seven positions to a rank of 76. Denmark has emerged as the corruption-free country for the second year running, but North Korea and Somalia performed the worst scoring eight points each.
Corruption and mismanagement are the two basic root causes of the economic woes facing the nation. Corruption has been gradually institutionalized and mismanagement is perceived to be widespread. Tough laws are a colonial legacy and a tool in the hands of the official machinery to use against whosoever comes across its way. In a society devoid of independent judicial system, misuse of official powers become order of the day and those who are supposed to check wrongs are also riding in the wrong boat. The institutions which were set up to curb corruption are also involved in corruption. It is good omen that Pakistan has gained some success in its fight against corruption and the journey towards fairness should have to be continued.
