CORRUPTION

INTRODUCTION:-

We, in Pakistan are breathing in a culture which, for no better description can be called the
culture of corruption. It has permeated to every facet of our life. Not a single institution is
without it’s black sheep whose number is ever on the increase. As a matter of fact of fact, we
seem to be developing immunity towards corruption. Indulgence in corruption is no longer
looked upon as an immoral or shameful act. Rather a person who does not avail the
opportunity to amass wealth is looked down upon as either a coward or a fool. The cultural
cycle is complete and we are in the grip of it’s spiral. Religion and moral codes or examples of
earlier heroes of honesty have failed to produce any healthy influence. Currently, according to
Transparency international, Pakistan is the 46th corrupt country in the index of corrupt nations.

MODES OF CORRUPTION:-

1. Petty corruption: includes nepotism and favoritism.

2. Routine corruption: involves common malpractices such as “ gifts”: or “parties” to get a
favour.
3. Chronic corruption: involves shameful patronization and promotion of all sorts of corrupt
deals.

FACES OF CORRUPTION:-

Corruption has crept to every department of the country. Police, Judiciary, WAPDA, Education,
Health, C & W, Customs and Excise, Income tax(FBR), Accountant General Officials, Army
Officers, PTA, Journalism etc. Federal and provincial governments do corruption in awarding
contracts in privatization, the allocation of import quota, the regulation of cartels e.g. The last
Sugar Crisis in the country.

CAUSES OF CORRUPTION:-
Following are the main causes of corruption in Pakistan:-

1. Rehabilitation and Settlement Of The Refugees:-

In Pakistan, with it’s inception, Corruption originated from the rehabilitation and settlement of
the refugees. Those who had the zeal and zest of national service from the sense of dedication,
patriotism and religious obligations. As there were scarce resources and the government
servants involved in rehabilitations were given arbitrary powers. This power created
opportunities for the officials to promote their own interests at the expense of miserable
masses.

2. Afghan War Against Russia:-

When the capitalist powers of the West decided to wage war against Communism and
Afghanistan became the battlefield, a huge sum of money and ammunition came to Pakistan as
Pakistan was to play the frontline state role in the war against Russia. Approximately more than
10 billion dollars were given to Pakistan by the Capitalist powers. Unfortunately, most of this
aid was usurped by those authorities who were directly or indirectly related to Afghan War.

3. Political Instability:-

Corruption prevails in those regions where there is no peace, no writ of the state and where
there is no stable government. Pakistan, unfortunately, has been a place of political intrigues,
politics of opportunism and obstructionism. Ultimately, democracy could not get its roots in
Pakistan. In such a scenario, the ruling elites involved in corrupt practices, not only to fill their
own pockets but also to buy out persons in order to facilitate their voracious aims.

4. Discritionary Powers Of Public Officilas:-

According to Roseau: “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

Wide and discretionary powers to the public officials provide incentive for corrupt behavior.
These make them little accountable. Judges, Bureaucrats and politicians have access to control
the valuable benefits of private citizens. They can impose costs over them and their business.
Public officials are usually tempted o use their positions for private gains by accepting bribes for
their posts. Private influential individuals may have been getting undeserved projects through
paying handsome amount in bribe to the concerned officers. Thus, a necessary condition for
corruption is that public officials have rewards and penalties at their disposal.

. Policy Environment:-

Corruption also stems from policy environment, either on the top or at the bottom of the
hierarchy. Pay offs are frequent to the lower level officials charged with collecting tariffs,
provide police protection, issuing permits and the like. When corruption is endemic, these
officials may create additional red tape and delay to include even higher payments. According
to Qaiser Bengali;
“ Every year more than 5oo billion rupees laps in Pakistan due to corruption in the civil
bureaucracy.”

5. The Dependency of Politicians on Bureaucracy:

Politicians depend on bureaucrats for their political standings. The culture of politics in Pakistan
is characterized as mushroom of political and agitational politics. Thus the government
becomes in shape of alliance and the same the opposition. All the political parties in the
government try to recruit more and more of their supporters in the bureaucracy. This is the
example of “administrative corruption”. Political leaders are more prone to corruption as they
need resources for financing their election campaigns and also for maintaining their social
status.

6. Low Salaries:-

Civil and military officers are also likely to involve in corruption due to their low salaries. As
their costs and expenses are exceeding their salaries.

7. Poverty:-
Poverty is also one of the main cause of corruption. The economic conditions of our country
have always been shabby. Inflation, as ever, is on the rise. There is a lack of social safety
network. All these compel a common man to indulge in such unlawful activities.

8. Ineffective Law and Procedure:-

There is no deterrence for the corrupt. It is coupled with discrimination in implementation of

laws.

EFFECTS OF CORRUPTION:-

1. Moral Degradation:-

Corruption tends to moral degradation. The culture of corruption has plagued the society to the
extent that it has become a way of life. Values and norms have changed and new values
orientation is undergone. It puts us on the threshold of the cross roads of values. The
generation, in all walks of life, emanate from assumption of power and corruption of values.
Corruption leads to corruption. Corruption of liberty leads to liberty of corruption. It initiates
every type of fraud, jealousy, deception, negligence and exploitation of the vulnerable and
weak segments of society. It breeds inequality and injustice in the society. It denies the basic
human rights of freedom, equality and fair play.

2. Mistrust and Suspicion;-

When there is corruption, there is mistrust and suspicion. People lose faith in the integrity of
Public administration as it becomes inefficient due to the violation of merit. Furthermore, they
lose their faith on the state and its representatives. Thus, these facts cause damage to the
social fabrics of the society. In consequence, democracy is put at stake and the nation becomes
vulnerable to be exploited by the anti-Pakistani elements. Resultantly, the writ of the state will
be shaken.
 3. Slow Economic Growth:-

Corruption leads to slow economic growth, coupled by deceleration of the development in the
state. It impacts the private sector as there is no transparency. In consequence, investment is
discouraged, whether it is internal or foreign. It impacts the public sector, as there is scarcity of
resources. Thus, it creates despair, insecurity and detracts people’s constructive objectives.

4. Corruption Leads To Exploitation:-

Corruption leads to exploitation because the living standard of people becomes very low. As
corruption retards economy and poverty alleviation and public service delivery. Thus, it leads to
all sorts of crimes and violence. Rich and poor gap gets widen. Poor are exploited by burgioses
(big businessman) class for their own aims

. Brain Drainage:-

Brain drainage is the direct effect of corruption. It will become harder to locate men and
women of ability and integrity in the public life. Capable people prefer to go abroad and serve
other nations with their ability instead of suffering in Pakistan.

SUGGESTIONS:-
Pakistan is in the midst of economic and security crisis and has earned a bad image in the world
community. So, curbing corruption is necessary to get it’s due status on the International front
to improve the quality of life of it’s people. The following steps are needed to be taken in order
to root out corruption in Pakistan:-

1. Making Accountability Mechanism Independent of Executive:-

In the past many attempts were made to uproot corruption but all in vain. Critics opine that in
the past, people were targeted and not facets of corruption. NAB (National Accountability
Bureau) was established to substantiate the commandment of Allah but it became a kingro
court. The anti-corruption Act is still on the Statute Book (Constitution), The Public
Representative Office Disqualification Act 1954 is still in vogue. General Ayub, Zia and
Musharraf introduced their own anti-corruption programs but they all aimed at throwing out
the politicians and not the corruption.
The reason is institutional weakness in the anti-corruption plans. For instance, the drive against
corruption has suffered a setback due to it’s control being wasted in the executive. This applies
to all watch-dogs; from the Anti-corruption to the National accountability bureau. The need is
of an accountability mechanism outside and independent of the executive at the same time.

2.Curtailment of Powers and Making Government Officials Accountable:-

It is a historically proven fact that neither politicians nor bureaucrats should have discretionary
powers. In a country like Pakistan where the head of the state to a pity assistant considers
discretionary powers a matter of life and death. This resulted in temptation to corruption that
ultimately corroded our whole Islamic values. Therefore, the powers of the administration and
politicians from top to bottom must be curtailed. Along with, Inter-departmental and Intra-
departmental accountability system must be strengthened. There must be penal laws with
strict enforcement for the corrupt individuals.

2. Transparency:-
Transparency, honesty and fair play are the pre-requisites for any state to progress. In order to
make Pakistan a corruption free state, it is inevitable to introduce a transparency and merit
culture in all its departments. No room should be provided for favoritism, gifts culture and
bribery.

4.Empowering Parliamentary Oversight Committe:-

Democratic government is still the best policy even if it’s leaders are less austere and less
capable than non-political guards or experts. A democratic system has it’s own correcting
mechanism. Parliamentary oversight and fear of losing the confidence of people makes it more
efficient. Parliamentary oversight committee which is empowered to revive all the actions of
the government, big cartels and bureaucrats. Only then the corruption could be minimized in
the country.

5. Increasing the Salaries of Public Servants:-

Corruption is a socio-economic problem. In the past, it has been treated only as a legal and
administrative issue. Good rumination(salary) to the public servants and merit-oriented
bureaucracy should be the norm in the country. There should be social justice and equity
among all citizens of the country. The pay structure of the public officials must be realistic.
Their salaries should be adequate to meet their needs.

6.Mass Awareness:
To minimize corruption in Pakistan, there is a need of a comprehensive campaign on media to
bring awareness in the people. The propagation against corruption could play a vital role in
uprooting corruption in Pakistan. Civil societies can also play a vital role in minimizing
corruption in our society.

CONCLUSION:-
A comprehensive campaign based on determination against corruption in order to restore the
trust of our nation should be initiated. At the same time, we must look seriously into the socio-
economic factors that have immensely contributed to a corrupt culture in our country. We
need a system that deters corruption now and in the future. Once corruption is rooted out from
Pakistan, then progress is it’s fate as God has bestowed it with both human and natural
resources