KARACHI: National Corruption Perception Survey (NCPS) used by Transparency International (TI) Pakistan for more than two decades, to generate evidence, highlight findings and assist relevant departments on reforms aimed at enhancing transparency, addressing menace of corruption in country and promoting good governance through its impartial and evidence-based research.

Spokesperson from TI while replying queries from daily National Courier stated that survey reports are reflective of free society, where citizens have freedom to exercise their opinions and express their concerns in free manner, without any intimidation. At same time, such reports are also instrumental in generating evidence for improving public perception about different departments and sectors.

Worldwide surveys are based on respondents’ perception which is opinion of respondents. Corruption Perception Index released by Transparency International every year since 1995, ranks 180 countries around world by their perceived levels of public sector corruption. In CPI 2023, Pakistan’s score has improved by 2 points and rank has improved by 7 positions.

Judiciary as defined in NCPS 2023 report goes beyond and includes Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Session Judges, City Court, Provincial and Federal Ombudsman, High Court, Supreme Court, Federal Shariat Court, Supreme Judicial Council etc. which includes accountability courts, NAB courts, FIA courts and provincial ombudsman, he said.

In last 23 years, National Corruption Perception results have never been challenged in any court, which shows that every department takes survey findings seriously. In December 2022, petition was filed in Peshawar High Court, challenging results of NCPS 2022. Commission was formed by Chief Justice Peshawar High Court and headed by District and Session Judge Muhammad Zeb Khan on findings of TI Pakistan NCPS 2022 report declaring Judiciary as most corrupt sector in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2022.

Chief Justice of Peshawar High Court was pleased to invite representative of TI Pakistan to brief them on anti-corruption measures and obtain TI Pakistan recommendations for implementation. In this regard, an online meeting was held on April 18, 2023. TI Pakistan proposed recommendations based on international best practices and discussed and shared with Peshawar High Court for implementation.

Similarly, on January 15, 2024, High Court of Sindh requested TI Pakistan input on factors on basis whereof rating is made in NCPS 2023 for improvement in Sindh judiciary.

Published in The Daily National Courier, March, 23 2024

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