Pakistan joined the international community in observing the United Nations’ International Anti-Corruption Day. The UN General Assembly set this day in 2003 to mark the adoption of the United Nations Convention against Corruption and to draw global attention to the damage corruption causes to societies and economies. It also reminds us that the fight against corruption is a shared responsibility of governments, civil society, the media and citizens.
Corruption undermines public trust, weakens institutions and diverts resources away from people who need them most. It slows development, erodes confidence in the rule of law and affects the delivery of essential public services. For a country to progress, its institutions must be strong, impartial and guided by fairness.
Pakistan has taken steps over the years to strengthen its accountability framework. Public funds have been recovered in cases involving misuse of authority, financial fraud and illegal occupation of state land. These efforts have brought relief to many affected individuals and helped restore assets to public and private organisations. Such results show what can be achieved when institutions act with integrity and stay focused on their legal mandate.
At the same time, accountability bodies must earn public respect and public confidence by remaining apolitical, avoiding discrimination and ensuring that their actions are guided only by fair play. Transparency, professionalism and ethical conduct are essential for credibility. Institutions that uphold these principles not only prevent corruption but also reinforce the public’s faith in the state.
On this day, I call upon all public servants, professionals and citizens to reaffirm their commitment to honesty and good governance. Our collective resolve to uphold integrity will strengthen Pakistan’s institutions and support our path towards stability and growth. I wish all organisations working for transparency and accountability continued success in their efforts for a fair and corruption free Pakistan.
Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on 9th December, Pakistan joined the international community in marking the ‘International Anti-Corruption Day’, and renewed its resolve to eliminate corruption, making all the efforts in this regard even more robust.
In a message on the observance of International Anti-Corruption Day, he said the day was being observed under the theme “Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity”, and reiterated that taking concrete measures against financial corruption was among the government’s top priorities.
In this regard, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and all other relevant institutions were working vigorously and diligently to ensure accountability at every level, including administrative, financial and institutional, he added.
The prime minister said the theme of the day underscored the significance of ending this menace through a comprehensive approach and the participation of people of all ages. “Our youth are the most precious asset and the guarantee for a peaceful, prosperous and developed future,” PM Office Media Wing, in a press release, quoted the prime minister a saying.
In the modern age, he said the nature and methods of corruption were rapidly evolving; therefore, involving young people in its prevention could play an effective role in eradicating the social evil.
The prime minister observed that the financial corruption weakened the foundations of national development, social diversity and the economy, besides eroding public trust. “International Anti-Corruption Day also provides an opportunity for the people across the globe to discourage the harmful social impacts of corruption and to reaffirm their commitment to creating a corruption-free society,” he stressed.
The prime minister further said that the financial corruption not only weakened the national governance but also impacted the daily lives of citizens, social justice and equality, economic development and the fundamental principles of a welfare state.