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Corruption and Its Impacts On Good Governance in Pakistan

Corruption is widespread in Pakistan and affects all levels of government and society. It undermines good governance and trust in institutions, worsens inequality, and slows economic development. Some efforts have been made to curb corruption, but it remains a significant problem without strong enforcement of anti-corruption laws and greater transparency and accountability in government.

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18 views7 pages

Corruption and Its Impacts On Good Governance in Pakistan

Corruption is widespread in Pakistan and affects all levels of government and society. It undermines good governance and trust in institutions, worsens inequality, and slows economic development. Some efforts have been made to curb corruption, but it remains a significant problem without strong enforcement of anti-corruption laws and greater transparency and accountability in government.

Uploaded by

Rafia Afzal
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Corruption and its Impacts on Good Governance in

Pakistan
“Corruption manifests itself in various forms in Pakistan, including
widespread financial and political corruption, nepotism, and misuse of
power. Both petty and grand corruptions are prevalent in the country”
(Chene, 2008).
Corruption:
Corruption, where people in power use their position to benefit
themselves, is a big problem in Pakistan. It's everywhere in the
government, from the top to the bottom. It's like a disease that's
spreading, making everything in the government weaker. Even the
courts and the lawmakers are involved in it. Pakistan is ranked very low
among other countries for having a government that's honest and fair,
which is bad.
Good governance:
Good governance needs a clean system without corruption.
Unfortunately, Pakistan is far behind in this. Corruption, whether big or
small, is everywhere in society: in government, business, politics, and
even religion. Strangely, it's like an unregulated market where
corruption is seen as normal. But it's very costly for society. It means
people don't get the full benefits from resources, and it makes the cost
of living higher. Corruption has been a problem since the 1940s, and
efforts to stop it in the 1990s and 2000s often just became ways for
politicians to help their friends or punish their enemies. Now, there's
hardly any accountability at the national level. To fix this, we need
people to understand the problem, a strong civil society, a media that
speaks out, and a fair court system. These are the keys to stopping
corruption in the future.
Extent of Corruption in Pakistan:
Firstly, corruption in Pakistan is everywhere, touching every aspect of
society and government. It ranges from small bribes to big thefts of
money. It's found in government, business, and even religious groups.
The problem is made worse by the fact that there aren't good ways to
stop corruption. Because of this, corruption has become normal, and
people who do corrupt things often don't get punished.
“The level of corruption in the society ultimately depends on the values
and morals of that society” (Vittal and Mahalingam).
According to one estimate, the loss made to the national exchequer is
over Rs. 200 billion per annum. This loss is caused collectively by all the
government departments but the most prominent amongst them as
per the Perception Survey carried out by Transparency International
Pakistan are:
1. Power Sector
2. Tax and Customs
3. Police and Law Enforcement
4. Judiciary and Legal Profession
5. Health and Education
6. Land Administration
Impact of Corruption on Good Governance:
The impact of corruption on good governance in Pakistan is
profound and far-reaching. One of the most significant
consequences is the erosion of public trust in government
institutions. When public officials prioritize personal gain over the
interests of the citizens they serve, it undermines the legitimacy of
the government and weakens its ability to effectively address
societal challenges.
1. Socio-economic inequalities:
Furthermore, corruption messes up how resources are used, which
makes things less efficient and causes waste. Instead of using limited
resources for projects that help everyone, corrupt practices steal that
money away. This means that public services like schools and hospitals
aren't as good as they should be, and things like roads and bridges
aren't built properly. This mismanagement of resources makes the gap
between rich and poor even bigger and stops the country from growing
and improving.
2. Erosion of Public Trust:
Corruption damages the trust that people have in their government and
its institutions. When people see public officials abusing their power for
personal gain, they lose faith in the fairness and honesty of the
government. This loss of trust can have serious consequences for
society as a whole.
 Loss of Confidence:
Citizens begin to doubt whether their government is truly working in
their best interests. They may question if elections are fair and if the
government makes decisions based on what's right.
 Disengagement:
Corruption can lead people to feel cynical, thinking that nothing can be
done about it. This can make them stop caring about politics, feeling
like their voice doesn't matter.
 Social Cohesion:
Trust in government is important for keeping society together and
peaceful. When people lose trust in their government, it can lead to
protests and even violence.
3. Impact on Economic Development:
Lack of trust in government can scare away foreign investors and slow
down economic growth. Businesses might not want to invest in a
country where corruption is a big problem, worrying that they'll be
treated unfairly or asked for bribes.
 Stifling Economic Development:
Corruption stifles economic development by creating an environment
of uncertainty and instability. Investors are hesitant to invest in
countries where corruption is rampant, fearing unfair competition and
bribery demands. This leads to a lack of investment in key sectors of the
economy, hindering growth and perpetuating poverty.

 Inefficient Use of Resources:


Corruption means that money and resources meant for public projects,
like schools and hospitals, are often stolen or wasted. This leads to
poor-quality services and infrastructure, hurting everyone in the long
run.
 Unfair Treatment:
Corruption allows some people to get special treatment, while others
suffer. It creates a system where those with money and connections
can get ahead, while ordinary people are left behind, making the
government less fair and just.
 Lack of Accountability:
Corruption often leads to a lack of accountability within government
institutions. When officials know they can get away with corrupt
practices without facing consequences, they are less likely to act in the
best interests of the public. This weakens the ability of the government
to hold individuals and institutions responsible for their actions.
4. Undermining the Rule of Law:
Corruption erodes the rule of law by allowing individuals to manipulate
legal processes for personal gain. When laws are not applied fairly and
consistently, it undermines public confidence in the legal system and
creates a culture of lawlessness. This undermines the foundation of
good governance, which relies on the rule of law to ensure equality and
justice for all citizens.
Actions of Judiciary:
Access to Justice Programme aimed at the following:
 Improving predictability and consistency between fiscal and
human resources and the mandates of reformed judicial and
public institutions at the federal, provincial, and local levels.
 Ensuring greater transparency and accountability in the
performance of the judiciary, the police, and administration
justice institutions.
 Providing a legal basis for judicial, policy, and administration
reforms. Improving the efficiency timelines and effectiveness in
judicial and police services.
 Supporting greater equality and accessibility in justice services for
the vulnerable poor.
Recommendations:
1. Judgment of the Supreme Court against NRO be implanted in
letter and spirit.
2. Accountability from the top be started.
3. A national anti-corruption commission be set up as an
independent watchdog.
4. End unnecessary or archaic discretionary laws.
5. Ensure time-bound actions in offices.
6. Use independent private-sector auditors.
7. Involve people in diagnosing corrupt systems.
8. Advocate that all ‘illegal’ money and property transactions in
industrialized countries are treated at par with drug money.
9. The problem of corruption is quite severe at the lower judiciary
and a system of alternative dispute resolution needs to be worked
out urgently.
10. Require public officials to declare their assets.
11. Community participation especially of students be ensured.

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