ISLAMABAD: An annual survey released by Transparency International (TI) on Tuesday has once again ranked the police as the most corrupt government sector in Pakistan, followed by the tender and procurement system and the judiciary.
The findings are part of TI’s National Corruption Perception Survey, which gauges public sentiment on governance and corruption across the country.
According to TI, 24 per cent of the 4,000 respondents surveyed nationwide — with 1,000 participants from each province — identified the police as the most corrupt institution. The perception was highest in Punjab at 34 per cent, followed by 22pc in Balochistan, 21pc in Sindh and 20pc in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Despite retaining its top position, TI noted a “notable improvement” in the public perception of police when compared with the previous year.
The tender and procurement sector was viewed as the second-most corrupt, with 16pc of respondents citing irregularities within it. Balochistan recorded the highest perception of corruption in this category at 23pc, followed by KP at 18pc, Sindh at 14pc and Punjab at 9pc. The judiciary ranked third, with 14pc of participants believing it to be corrupt, a perception that was strongest in KP at 18pc.
The survey found that 66pc of respondents said they did not feel compelled to bribe a public official in 2025. However, dissatisfaction with the government’s anti-corruption efforts remained widespread, with 77pc expressing low satisfaction. Sindh recorded the highest frequency of bribery in accessing public services at 46pc, compared with 39pc in Punjab and 20pc in KP. Overall, 59pc of respondents believed that provincial governments were more corrupt than local governments, a view held most strongly in Punjab.
TI reported that a lack of accountability and transparency, limited access to information and delays in deciding corruption cases were seen as major drivers of corruption. The survey also found strong public support for oversight of anti-graft bodies themselves. An overwhelming 78pc believed institutions such as the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) should be held accountable. Respondents cited a lack of transparency in investigations, absence of independent oversight and the alleged misuse of powers for political victimisation as key concerns.
Provincial Anti-Corruption Establishments (ACEs) were also rated poorly, with 33pc of respondents finding them ineffective and another 34pc describing them as less effective. The report highlighted a significant awareness gap in corruption-reporting mechanisms: 70pc of respondents said they were unaware of how to report corruption, and among the 30pc who knew the channels, less than half had ever submitted a report. Many respondents indicated they would be more willing to report wrongdoing if anonymity mechanisms or incentive-based reporting were introduced.
The survey also spotlighted corruption in the health sector, where 67pc of respondents believed unethical practices had a high impact on people’s lives. The perception was highest in Sindh at 69pc, followed by KP at 68pc, Balochistan at 67pc and Punjab at 63pc. Participants identified hospitals, doctors and pharmaceutical companies as the main sites of corruption and called for stricter regulations, including curbs on pharmaceutical commissions to doctors and a ban on private practice.
Additionally, 51pc believed that NGOs, hospitals, trusts, laboratories and educational institutions receiving tax exemptions from the Federal Board of Revenue should not charge fees to the public, while 53pc said such institutions should publicly disclose their donors and donation amounts.
