IMF Urges Pakistan to Ensure Independence of Accountability Bodies, Recommends Comprehensive Reforms

Islamabad: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has recommended that Pakistan strengthen and ensure the independence of its key anti-corruption institutions — the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and provincial anti-corruption departments — as part of broader reforms to eradicate corruption.

According to the IMF’s Governance and Corruption Report, NAB and provincial anti-corruption bodies should be made autonomous and independent, while the process for appointing the NAB Chairman should be improved to make high-level corruption investigations more effective. The report also calls for enhanced investigative capacity within NAB and for robust internal accountability systems within all relevant agencies.

The IMF further recommended establishing a central authority — comprising the FBR, Parliament, and the Establishment Division — responsible for collecting, digitizing, and publicly disclosing the assets, powers, and resources of senior government officials to ensure transparency and accountability.

Additionally, the IMF advised adopting a risk-based approach across all three anti-corruption institutions — NAB, FIA, and provincial Anti-Corruption Establishments. It stressed the need to improve identification of suspicious transactions, enhance access to corruption-related information, and strengthen coordination and information-sharing among NAB, the Auditor General of Pakistan, and the FBR.