Islamabad: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has urged the government of Pakistan to take stronger measures to combat corruption. In a report outlining the terms of a new $7 billion loan program for Pakistan, the IMF highlighted instances of mismanagement in the country’s public sector and called for an end to the use of corruption cases for political harassment.
Among its demands, the IMF called for the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to be made more independent and effective, in line with a recent Supreme Court decision. The report stressed that NAB should be empowered to conduct more robust accountability measures and function autonomously.
The IMF also called for improvements in Pakistan’s investigation mechanisms to combat corruption, asking the government to develop an anti-corruption action plan by June 2025. Furthermore, the global financial institution suggested that Pakistan undertake a review in accordance with the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) to assess the country’s progress in combating graft and to strengthen the legal capacity of public institutions handling corruption cases.
The IMF’s recommendations include making asset declarations of all public officials more accessible, curbing the illegal accumulation of wealth by these officials, and publicly disclosing their asset and income details. The report specifically called for legislation by February that would mandate the publication of assets of government officials and members of parliament.
Additionally, the IMF suggested that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) be digitalized to facilitate the public release of such asset declarations and that NAB be given accurate data to conduct corruption investigations. The report underscored the need for transparency within public institutions to ensure that accountability measures are implemented effectively.
