CSS 2012 Solved Current Affairs Past Paper | Managing corruption in Pakistan
The following question of CSS Current Affairs 2012 is solved by Sir Ammar Hashmi, the best Current Affairs Coach, on the guided pattern of Sir Syed Kazim Ali, which he taught to his students, scoring the highest marks in compulsory subjects for years. This solved past paper question is uploaded to help aspirants understand how to crack a topic or question, write relevantly, what coherence is, and how to include and connect ideas, opinions, and suggestions to score the maximum.
Question breakdown
The question requires an examination of ways to manage corruption in Pakistan.
Outline
1-Introduction
2-A brief overview of the corruption in Pakistan
3-Ways to manage corruption in Pakistan
- ✓Strengthening accountability institutions
- ✓Bringing in judicial and legal reforms
- ✓Introducing e-governance and digitalization
- ✓Making public procurement and contracts transparent
- ✓Introducing electoral reforms and political transparency
- ✓Educating and providing public awareness
4-Conclusion
Answer to the Question
Introduction
Corruption is one of the most pervasive challenges, ranking high on the agenda of successive governments in Pakistan. However, none of them possessed the will or the utmost capacity to eradicate this evil from society. According to Transparency International’s 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index, Pakistan ranks 140th out of 180 countries. This abysmal standing indicates the level of corruption in Pakistan. Therefore, the state must undertake significant reforms to eradicate the scourge of corruption from society. These reforms include strengthening accountability institutions, bringing in judicial and legal reforms, and introducing e-governance and digitalization. Moreover, introducing electoral reforms, promoting political transparency, and educating the public can also help in managing corruption in Pakistan. Therefore, the state should implement these reforms as soon as possible to effectively address this issue.
A brief overview of the corruption in Pakistan
Pakistan continues to grapple with deep-rooted corruption that infiltrates every tier of society, from street-level bribery to grand political graft. Transparency International’s 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index ranks Pakistan 140th out of 180 countries, reflecting persistent governance failures. The National Accountability Bureau’s uneven prosecutions reveal how political connections routinely shield powerful offenders from justice. Rampant kickbacks in public contracts, police extortion, and rigged procurement processes have become institutionalized, diverting billions from development projects. While successive governments pledge reform, weak judicial oversight and bureaucratic complicity maintain a culture where corruption remains low-risk and high-reward. This institutionalized malfeasance not only undermines economic growth but erodes citizens’ faith in democracy itself, with ordinary Pakistanis bearing the brunt through poor services and stunted opportunities.
Ways to manage corruption in Pakistan
The following are some significant ways to manage corruption in Pakistan.
- Strengthening accountability institutions
The first and foremost way to manage corruption in Pakistan is to strengthen accountability institutions, with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) at the forefront, often coupled with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). To strengthen these institutions in a genuine sense, the state will need to curb political influence over them and devise a system that prevents successive governments from hindering their free operations. Moreover, these institutions should implement strict anti-corruption laws and ensure that they maintain rigorous oversight of everyone, especially government servants, regardless of their department, including both civilian and military personnel. In this way, corruption can be managed in Pakistan.
- Bringing in judicial and legal reforms
Second, implementing the much-needed judicial and legal reforms is essential to tackle corruption in Pakistan. These reforms include establishing special, fast-track anti-corruption courts to ensure timely justice, as well as enhancing the judicial system’s efficiency to prevent delays in ongoing corruption cases. Thus, by doing so, the state can manage corruption in Pakistan.
- Introducing e-governance and digitalization
Third, the state should overhaul all the financial aspects by introducing e-governance and digitization. This overhaul should aim to reduce human involvement in government services through digital platforms, thereby minimizing bribery and favoritism. Moreover, the state should implement blockchain technology for financial transactions to ensure transparency. Thus, by following these steps, the state can manage corruption in Pakistan.
- Making procurement public and contracts transparent
Fourth, procurement and contract awarding are among the key areas where corruption happens, both in terms of favoritism and bribery. To address this, the state should make the procurement process public and transparent by introducing open and competitive bidding systems for government contracts. Doing so will prevent favoritism and kickbacks. Thus, if these measures are followed, they can help in managing corruption in Pakistan.
- Introducing electoral reforms and political transparency
Fifth, the state should introduce electoral reforms and political transparency to manage corruption in Pakistan. The state, through its financial watchdogs and investigative agencies, should enforce strict financial disclosure requirements for political leaders and public officials. This disclosure must include all the assets within the country and abroad. Additionally, these institutions should closely monitor any suspicious financial activity of all government servants. Moreover, to ensure the success of this system, corrupt individuals should be barred from holding public office for their entire lives, all of their assets, including foreign assets, must be confiscated, and they should be sentenced according to the severity of their corruption. Thus, by doing so, the state can manage corruption in Pakistan.
- Educating and providing public awareness
Last but not least, one of the most crucial aspects of combating corruption in Pakistan is to educate the public and raise awareness about the issue. To achieve this, the state can introduce ethics and anti-corruption education into school curricula. Additionally, the state should conduct nationwide awareness campaigns to encourage public participation in reporting corruption. Furthermore, alongside these efforts, the state should ensure the safety of the masses and take swift action following their reports. Thus, in this way, the state can manage corruption in Pakistan.
Conclusion
Conclusively, corruption in Pakistan remains a major impediment to economic growth, political stability, and social development. Despite repeated promises by successive governments, the lack of institutional integrity and political will has allowed corruption to persist. However, by strengthening accountability institutions, implementing judicial and legal reforms, and promoting e-governance, the state can effectively curb this menace. Additionally, ensuring transparency in public procurement, enforcing electoral reforms, and educating the public about the consequences of corruption can play a crucial role in fostering a culture of integrity. While these measures require strong political commitment and public cooperation, their successful implementation can help Pakistan transition towards a more transparent and accountable governance system, ultimately paving the way for sustainable national progress.
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