Corruption cannot be eradicated overnight, nor can transparency be achieved through slogans or short-term gestures. The roots of institutional decay run deep, embedded in decades of structural weaknesses and governance challenges. Reform, by its very nature, demands patience, continuity, and political will. Those who expect transformation in the blink of an eye misunderstand the scale of the task. What is realistic, however, is the beginning of a credible journey toward improvement. And when that journey begins to produce measurable, positive indicators, it deserves recognition.
Pakistan today stands at precisely such a juncture.
Transparency International has released its Corruption Perceptions Index 2025, and the results point toward cautious but undeniable progress. Compared to 2024, Pakistan’s overall score has improved by one point, reaching 28. The country has also moved up to 136th position. While critics may dismiss incremental gains as insufficient, governance experts understand that even a single point increase in such global indices reflects meaningful institutional shifts.
More importantly, this improvement is not an isolated event. From 2021 to 2025, Pakistan has demonstrated a consistent upward trajectory. Over the past four years, the country has improved by four positions in global rankings. This steady progress reflects sustained governance reforms and coordinated institutional efforts rather than cosmetic measures.
Transparency International’s findings highlight notable improvement not only in perceptions of public sector and administrative corruption but also within legislative bodies and the judiciary. In key indicators, including administrative and judicial corruption, improvements of up to five points have been recorded. These are critical sectors. Reform in these domains signals structural strengthening rather than surface-level compliance.
The 2025 report is also broader in scope, expanding its survey from 180 countries in 2024 to 182 countries this year. In a more competitive and comprehensive global assessment, Pakistan has maintained its reform momentum. This context matters. Improvement within an expanded comparative framework underscores genuine progress.
The journey toward full transparency is long. Yet the direction matters. And today, the direction is right.
Domestic data further reinforces this positive trend. Transparency International Pakistan’s annual report, released in December 2025, found that two out of three citizens reported never encountering corruption or irregularities in public institutions. Additionally, a recent IPSOS survey conducted in collaboration with the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry revealed that 67 per cent of Pakistanis had never faced corruption, while 76 per cent reported never encountering nepotism. Such findings reflect a perceptible shift in public experience and confidence.
Behind these numbers lies substantive work. Over the past year alone, 135 public institutions implemented more than 600 successful reforms, as detailed in the recently released Pakistan Reforms Report. These measures include digitisation initiatives, procurement transparency mechanisms, accountability frameworks, and administrative restructuring. Governance reform is no longer a theoretical discourse. It is being operationalised across institutions.
Transparency International has consistently emphasised that the only sustainable way to counter corruption perception globally is through institutional reform. Pakistan’s experience over the past four years validates that principle. Through sustained structural adjustments and governance modernisation, the country has managed to improve its standing and reduce the perception of corruption by four ranks.
This is not a declaration of victory. Much work remains to be done. But progress must be acknowledged where it exists. A nation that recognises its incremental achievements builds momentum for deeper reform. Pakistan’s improving indicators are not merely statistics; they represent a strengthening of institutions, growing administrative accountability, and an emerging culture of transparency.The journey toward full transparency is long. Yet the direction matters. And today, the direction is right.
The writer is a lawyer and author based in Islamabad. He tweets @m_asifmahmood