Pakistan Edges Up in Global Corruption Index; Score Rises to 28

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan has shown a marginal improvement in its fight against corruption, according to the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released by Transparency International on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.

While the improvement is slight, it marks a shift from the previous year’s decline and aligns with recent efforts to meet stringent international governance standards.

The Numbers: 2025 vs. 2024

Pakistan’s performance in the public sector corruption perception has nudged upward:

*Note: While the score improved, the rank dropped slightly due to the addition of two new countries to the index that scored higher than Pakistan.

IMF Reforms & Governance

Transparency International Pakistan (TIP) Chair, Justice Zia Perwez, noted that the country’s upward momentum is linked to ongoing institutional reforms. However, he emphasized that for these gains to be sustainable, Pakistan must strictly implement the IMF Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Assessment.

Key Reform Areas include:

• Digitization: Shifting procurement and tax compliance to digital platforms to reduce human intervention.
• SOE Oversight: Strengthening the accountability and financial transparency of State-Owned Enterprises.
• Whistleblower Protections: Establishing legal frameworks to protect citizens who report bribery.

A Global Context: Worsening Trends

The report highlights that corruption is worsening globally, even in established democracies.

• The “Cleanest” Five: Only five countries now score above 80 (down from 12 a decade ago). Denmark remains at the top with a score of 89.
• Regional Peers: While Pakistan edges up, the regional average remains low at 34.
• The Bottom: Conflict-affected nations like Somalia and South Sudan continue to occupy the bottom of the list with scores as low as 9.

Local Perception: The NCPS 2025 Survey

In addition to the global index, a domestic National Corruption Perception Survey (NCPS) conducted in late 2025 revealed a nuanced picture of ground realities:

• Economic Stability: 60% of respondents felt the economy was stabilizing following the IMF deal and exit from the FATF grey list.
• Service Delivery: 66% of citizens reported not paying a bribe for government services in the last year, a record high.
• Most Corrupt Sectors: Despite improvements, the Police remains the most corruption-prone institution according to public perception, followed by Tenders/Procurement and the Judiciary.

What’s Next?

The IMF has estimated that if Pakistan successfully implements its full 15-point governance reform agenda, it could boost its GDP growth by 5% to 6.5% over the next five years by reducing “leakage” and building investor trust.

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