Pakistan has dropped two spots in the latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released by Transparency International, now ranking 135th out of 180 countries in 2024. The country’s score also fell from 29 in 2023 to 27 in 2024, reflecting a worsening perception of corruption within its public sector.
Transparency International Pakistan (TIP) emphasized that it does not contribute to the collection or calculation of CPI data, as the index relies on independent global assessments of governance and anti-corruption efforts. TIP Chairperson Justice (retd) Zia Perwez noted that Pakistan’s decline mirrors a broader regional trend, with most neighboring countries also seeing lower scores, except for Oman, China, Turkey, and Mongolia.
Also read: Pakistan’s First Ramadan Fast Likely on March 2: Met Department
Despite the decline, Perwez highlighted that Pakistan remains relatively resilient compared to other nations in the region, though he did not cite any significant governance improvements. The report reiterated that corruption continues to pose a major global challenge, with over two-thirds of countries scoring below 50 on the 100-point scale.
Transparency International’s global chairperson, François Valérian, expressed concern about the damaging effects of corruption on democratic institutions and its role in exacerbating crises like climate change. He urged the international community to prioritize anti-corruption measures to combat authoritarianism and safeguard human rights.
On a global scale, Denmark retained its top position as the least corrupt country with a score of 90, followed closely by Finland and Singapore. At the other end of the spectrum, nations embroiled in conflict, such as South Sudan, Somalia, and Venezuela, ranked at the bottom of the index.
