Police still most corrupt department in Pakistan: Transparency

A majority of Pakistanis recognize government efforts to stabilize the economy and report facing no bribery pressures in daily life, although the police force remains the sector perceived as most corrupt, a Transparency International Pakistan survey showed on Tuesday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The National Corruption Perception Survey (NCPS) 2025 indicated that nearly 60% of respondents fully or partially agreed that the government had successfully stabilized the economy through its International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme and by exiting the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list.

Furthermore, 66% of respondents stated they did not encounter a situation in the last 12 months where they felt compelled to pay a bribe to access public services.

Methodology and scope

The survey, conducted from September 22 to September 29, 2025, expanded its sample size to 4,000 respondents across 20 districts. The exercise included urban and rural populations, persons with disabilities, and transgender persons to provide a more representative snapshot of public sentiment.

Transparency International Pakistan noted that the NCPS measures public “mood” and experiences rather than certifying actual corruption levels or investigating specific cases. As a domestic exercise, the findings do not alter Pakistan’s standing on the global Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).

Sector rankings and improvements

While the police sector remained the highest ranked for perceived corruption at 24%, the figure reflected a 6% improvement in public perception regarding behaviour and service delivery. Other institutions showing improved public perception included education, land and property, local government, and taxation.

Following the police, tendering and procurement ranked second at 16%, while the judiciary placed third at 14%.

Despite the acknowledgement of macroeconomic stabilization, 57% of respondents reported that their purchasing power had decreased over the past year.

Institutional reform and accountability

The report highlighted a strong public demand for reform within oversight bodies. An overwhelming 78% of Pakistanis said anti-corruption institutions, such as the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), should themselves be answerable and transparent.

Respondents prioritized better accountability (26%), limiting discretionary powers (23%), and stronger Right to Information laws (20%) as the most effective measures to curb corruption.

“The NCPS 2025… highlights how people perceive and experience [corruption] in their daily interactions with public institutions,” said Justice (R) Zia Perwez, Chairman of Transparency International Pakistan.

Health and political finance

In the healthcare sector, Pakistanis outlined a blueprint for reform, favouring stricter controls on commissions paid by pharmaceutical companies to doctors (23%) and a ban on private practice by public sector doctors (20%).

Regarding political finance, a combined 83% of respondents supported either banning or strictly regulating business funding to political parties. Additionally, 55% supported a complete ban on the use of political parties’ names and leadership images in government advertisements.

The survey also found that 42% of Pakistanis would feel safe reporting corruption if strong whistleblower protection laws were in place, emphasizing the need for anonymity and reward mechanisms.

Reporter: Ahmad Mansoor