The PTI government which rose to power on its election slogan ‘Accountability’ has miserably failed to accomplish its task to rid the country of its corruption-tainted image as the Transparency International has once again dropped the country’s position by three points i.e. from 31 to 28 on the global corruption index, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Tuesday.

According to the 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released by Transparency International on Tuesday, Pakistan ranked 140 out of 180 countries on the CPI, up by 16 spots as last year the country was ranked 124.

The data to gauge the Corruption Perception Index was taken from the PTI government. 

According to the report, the corruption level in Pakistan has increased as the country has lost 3 points. In 2021, Pakistan got 28 points out of 100 and now it has got 31 points. 

Pakistan’s position is even worse when compared to other regional countries including India and Sri Lanka.

The TI formulated its perception index on the basis of data provided by the World Bank Pakistan Policy and Departmental Report Aug 2020, World Economic Forum, Executive Opinion Survey 2020, World Justice Project, Rule of Law Index and data and reports about kinds of democracy. 

According to the Transparency Report, corruption levels remain at a standstill worldwide, with 86% of countries making little to no progress during the last decade.  

The reason behind rising corruption in Pakistan is absence of rule of law. Due to loose grip of the state, country has notched up from 124 to 140 position in the global corruption ranking, according to the report. 

Despite several arrests and NAB recoveries, corruption has increased in Pakistan exposing false claims of the government, the report added.  

After TI report, rulers must step down: Shehbaz 

Commenting on the Transparency International report, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif has said that the report was a proof for the second time that Imran Niazi’s government was corrupt and he was a thief. 

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the PML-N president said the report of an international institution was indictment of the whole government. He demanded of the corrupt rulers to resign. Country can’t afford their loot, he added. 

He said during Imran Niazi’s reign, Pakistan was making rapid progress in corruption. The world is proclaiming that the prime minister is thief, Shehbaz said adding that country’s position was up by 16 spots in the global corruption ranking which was lamentable.

He said during Nawaz Sharif’s government, Pakistan ranking was improved by 23 spots. But the current corrupt ruling coterie has wasted all good work of the previous regime, he deplored.