ISLAMABAD: A scathing new report has exposed deep flaws in Pakistan’s whistleblower protection framework, labeling it structurally inadequate and largely symbolic. This revelation underscores decades of failures in political accountability, contract enforcement, and regulatory independence.
Pakistan ranks a dismal 135th out of 180 countries in the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, cementing its place among the world’s most corruption-prone nations. Transparency and accountability, the report argues, are not mere political slogans but essential pillars for building trust between the state and its citizens.
In a detailed analysis published in The News International, political economist and public policy analyst Saqib Barjis highlights the critical role of whistleblowing culture. ‘Without it, corruption thrives, fostering a culture that rewards silence and punishes truth-tellers,’ he writes.
Despite the existence of the Whistleblower Protection and Vigilance Commission Act 2019, Barjis points out its lack of effective enforcement mechanisms. ‘Anonymity guarantees, robust implementation, and retaliation safeguards are absent,’ he notes. Reforms aligned with the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) could address these gaps, he suggests.
The report laments the presence of anti-corruption laws overshadowed by a glaring lack of political will to enforce them. Pakistan stands at a crossroads, where institutional erosion, eroded public trust, and brain drain have reached alarming levels.
‘Talented professionals aren’t abandoning Pakistan out of disloyalty; Pakistan has rejected merit,’ Barjis asserts. While whistleblower protection isn’t a panacea, it forms the foundation for meaningful reforms.
Nations that institutionalize accountability attract investment, talent, and legitimacy. Those that deny these values may survive temporarily but ultimately face collapse. Protecting whistleblowers, the report concludes, is key to safeguarding Pakistan’s future from self-inflicted isolation from modernity.