Transparency International Pakistan (TIP) released its National Corruption Perception Survey 2023, uncovering concerning corruption trends in the country. The survey highlights the judiciary among the top three most corrupt institutions in Pakistan, with police taking the lead, followed by tendering and contracting.
In the realm of public service delivery, the survey indicates that the judiciary stands out as the institution with the highest average expenditure on bribery, reaching Rs25,846. Notably, citizens in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported paying the highest average bribe to access the judiciary, totaling Rs162,000.
Punjab, on the other hand, recorded the highest average bribe paid to access the police, amounting to Rs21,186, while in Balochistan, citizens paid the highest bribe to access health services, averaging Rs160,000.
A significant revelation from the NCPS 2023 is that 68% of Pakistanis nationally believe that accountability institutions, such as NAB, FIA, and Anti-Corruption Establishments, are employed for political victimization. Moreover, 60% of respondents at the national level feel that these accountability institutions should be abolished due to their perceived failure in controlling corruption.
The survey delves into the root causes of corruption, with the Lack of Merit identified by 40% of respondents at the national level. Provincially, Sindh, KP, and Balochistan attribute corruption to Lack of Merit (42%, 43%, and 47%, respectively), while Punjab points to the use of state institutions by bureaucracy for personal gains (47%).
As measures to combat corruption, 55% of respondents at the national level emphasize the immediate disclosure of public officials’ assets on government websites, while 45% advocate for accountability courts to resolve corruption cases within 30 days.
On a broader perspective, 47% of Pakistanis see corruption as the main obstacle hindering the country’s progress. Additionally, 62% believe that corruption and unethical practices contribute to environmental degradation and worsen the effects of climate change, with 67% feeling that provincial and local governments neglect public opinion in shaping climate policies.
The survey reflects a low engagement with Right to Information (RTI) requests, with 76% of Pakistanis at the national level reporting never filing any RTI request.
Conducted from October 13 to October 31, 2023, with 1,600 respondents across all four provinces, the NCPS 2023 sheds light on the citizens’ perceptions of corruption levels and frequencies in Pakistan. Transparency International Pakistan has conducted eight such surveys in the last 23 years, aiming to track and address corruption trends in the country.
