DNA

ISLAMABAD: Transparency International Pakistan (TIP) Saturday released its National Corruption Perception Survey 2023 which shows the judiciary among the top three most corrupt institutions in Pakistan.

Police are the most corrupt, followed by tendering and contracting and judiciary. Education and Health departments have been evaluated as the 4th and 5th most corrupt institutions. Local Government, Land Administration and Customs, Excise and Income Tax are assessed as 6th, 7th and 8th most corrupt.

In terms of public service delivery, the average expenditure on bribery was the highest on judiciary (Rs25,846). In KP on average paid the highest bribe to access judiciary (Rs162,000), reveals the report.

In Punjab, on an average citizens paid the highest bribe to access police (Rs21,186) whereas in Balochistan on an average citizens paid the highest bribe to access health (Rs160,000).

The NCPS 2023 has revealed that majority of Pakistanis (68%) at the national level believe that accountability institutions such as NAB, FIA and Anti-Corruption Establishments are used for political victimisation.

The survey shows that 60% Pakistanis at national level feel that the accountability institutions (NAB, FIA, ACEs, office of the Ombudsman) should be abolished as they have failed to control corruption.

At the national level (75%) citizens considered private sector to wield too much power and influence, which often leads to corruption. Majority of citizens (36%) considered anti-corruption institutions’ role as “ineffective” in curbing corruption in Pakistan.

At the national level, the major cause of corruption, according to NCPS 2023, is the Lack of Merit (40%). At the provincial level, in Sindh (42%), KP (43%) and Balochistan (47%) consider lack of merit as a potent cause of corruption in Pakistan. In Punjab (47%) consider use of state institutions by bureaucracy for personal gains as the main cause of corruption in Pakistan.