Dr Iqtidar Cheema
FULL MEMBER
New Recruit
- Joined
- Dec 27, 2014
- Messages
- 11
- Reaction score
- 0
- Country
- Location
Government controlled/ influenced media outlets in Pakistan are busy celebrating the one grade lower ranking of Pakistan in Transparency International’s (TI) yearly assessment of corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2014. This year Pakistan has been ranked as 126 out of 175 countries compared to its 127 position in 2013. However, this year’s ranking also clearly demonstrates that Pakistan is still 50th most corrupt country in the world. Pakistan’s meager point score of 29/100 in Corruption Perceptions Index still classify the country amongst one of the most corrupt countries in the world. The countries which score below 50 points in the index are perceived to be highly corrupt. Those who had a chance to look at the original CPI 2014 can clearly see Pakistani map marked as ‘Red’ in the index for the corruption. Some of the other south Asian countries i.e. Sri Lanka, Bhutan and India have a much better ranking than Pakistan in CPI 2014.
One must also not forget that this index is based on ‘Perception’of the corruption and not on the actual corruption. CPI is completely based on how corrupt the countries are ‘perceived’to be by a small group of experts based primarily in London, New York, Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai who are supported by a global network of in-country specialists, staff and consultants. Most of the Pakistanis know that in Pakistan Corruption is mostly hidden and under-reported -- so probably it is really impossible to measure the actual size of the corruption with great accurateness. In an article for the world famous Foreign Policy magazine, Alex Cobham, a European Financial expert had suggested in 2013 that Transparency International should drop the CPI. He opines that it would be more useful to collect better evidence of ‘actual corruption’ or information about how corruption is or isn't affecting citizens.
The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, (2000) defines the Corruption as: (a) dishonest or illegal behaviour, especially of people in authority (b) the act or effect of making somebody change from moral to immoral standards of behaviour. This definition is obviously not followed by Transparency International otherwise Pakistan might have been ranked even worst in CPI.
While the Sharifs’ Government is busy in building the roads, overhead bridges, bus services etc, there is allegedly a large-scale corruption in procurement and contracting these major infrastructural development projects. There is lack of a standardised procurement regulations along with absence of procurement expertise in the government. Grounds and opportunities for corruption are there at every stage from preparation to tender, bid evaluation, negotiations, and contracting.
Corruption in Pakistani police and law enforcement is alleged to be unescapable. This creates a culture of lawlessness and lack of integrity and reliance in establishment. The police and law enforcement appointments are often politicised, full of nepotism and conflict of interest. In such a corrupt environment the criminals, rent-seekers and blackmailers are often the sole beneficiaries of the corrupt system. Various recent studies also purpose that in Pakistan, there is an extensive deficiency of public buoyancy in the judicial system. Common man’s access to justice and the rule of law is usually undermined. The system of courts and prisons and their staffs are derisory and prevalent with corruption.
The Accountability Courts have so far announced judgments in several high profile corruption cases. However, the criticism with regards to selective accountability and political motives has repeatedly been raised.
This political corruption, coupled with bureaucratic corruption, has had a lethal effect on Pakistan’s economy and is a major reason why government services are so poor. There is a wider inclination to the tendency of (Luto tay Phuto) “plunder and run ” rather than investing in tomorrow. Foreign aid without accountability has also stained Pakistani government institutions. Most Pakistanis are deeply offended by the corruption and lack of accountability in their government.
Establishments such as Transparency International says that corruption guides like the CPI are a “wake-up call to political leaders and to the public at large to confront the abundant corruption that pervades so many countries.” The truth about Pakistan is that government and citizens are fully aware of the corruption which infuses the nation. The problem is that the people are powerless to stop it.
One must also not forget that this index is based on ‘Perception’of the corruption and not on the actual corruption. CPI is completely based on how corrupt the countries are ‘perceived’to be by a small group of experts based primarily in London, New York, Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai who are supported by a global network of in-country specialists, staff and consultants. Most of the Pakistanis know that in Pakistan Corruption is mostly hidden and under-reported -- so probably it is really impossible to measure the actual size of the corruption with great accurateness. In an article for the world famous Foreign Policy magazine, Alex Cobham, a European Financial expert had suggested in 2013 that Transparency International should drop the CPI. He opines that it would be more useful to collect better evidence of ‘actual corruption’ or information about how corruption is or isn't affecting citizens.
The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, (2000) defines the Corruption as: (a) dishonest or illegal behaviour, especially of people in authority (b) the act or effect of making somebody change from moral to immoral standards of behaviour. This definition is obviously not followed by Transparency International otherwise Pakistan might have been ranked even worst in CPI.
While the Sharifs’ Government is busy in building the roads, overhead bridges, bus services etc, there is allegedly a large-scale corruption in procurement and contracting these major infrastructural development projects. There is lack of a standardised procurement regulations along with absence of procurement expertise in the government. Grounds and opportunities for corruption are there at every stage from preparation to tender, bid evaluation, negotiations, and contracting.
Corruption in Pakistani police and law enforcement is alleged to be unescapable. This creates a culture of lawlessness and lack of integrity and reliance in establishment. The police and law enforcement appointments are often politicised, full of nepotism and conflict of interest. In such a corrupt environment the criminals, rent-seekers and blackmailers are often the sole beneficiaries of the corrupt system. Various recent studies also purpose that in Pakistan, there is an extensive deficiency of public buoyancy in the judicial system. Common man’s access to justice and the rule of law is usually undermined. The system of courts and prisons and their staffs are derisory and prevalent with corruption.
The Accountability Courts have so far announced judgments in several high profile corruption cases. However, the criticism with regards to selective accountability and political motives has repeatedly been raised.
This political corruption, coupled with bureaucratic corruption, has had a lethal effect on Pakistan’s economy and is a major reason why government services are so poor. There is a wider inclination to the tendency of (Luto tay Phuto) “plunder and run ” rather than investing in tomorrow. Foreign aid without accountability has also stained Pakistani government institutions. Most Pakistanis are deeply offended by the corruption and lack of accountability in their government.
Establishments such as Transparency International says that corruption guides like the CPI are a “wake-up call to political leaders and to the public at large to confront the abundant corruption that pervades so many countries.” The truth about Pakistan is that government and citizens are fully aware of the corruption which infuses the nation. The problem is that the people are powerless to stop it.
