The government has agreed to publish asset declarations of high-level public officials in 2026 and implement risk-based verification to strengthen accountability and combat corruption, according to the IMF’s Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Assessment (GCDA).
The assessment, released as a structural benchmark under Pakistan’s ongoing $7 billion loan programme, highlights widespread weaknesses in the country’s anti-corruption framework and the need for reforms in both the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and asset disclosure systems.
Under a short-term action plan, the government and IMF have agreed to initiate the publication of asset declarations and introduce risk-based verification to enhance transparency among senior federal civil servants.
In the longer term, the two sides plan to explore establishing a centralised authority to digitise, collect, and publish declarations with adequate powers for verification, though implementation may be challenged by the expiry of the IMF programme.
The report also underscores the need to improve NAB’s independence and effectiveness by strengthening the appointment process for its head, enhancing investigative capacities, and establishing robust internal accountability mechanisms.
Currently, disciplinary actions for corruption, particularly in senior revenue officials, are limited, with criminal prosecution applied only occasionally. Provincial anti-corruption agencies face additional challenges, including political interference and restricted access to critical databases.
Asset declarations are fragmented across the government, military, and judiciary, with public access largely absent. The report emphasises that lifestyle monitoring could supplement verification by detecting discrepancies between officials’ declared income and actual living standards.
Regarding NAB appointments, the IMF notes that political compromises have historically influenced the selection of the chairman, limiting merit-based competition. It recommends a multi-sectoral stakeholder commission for transparent appointments and an autonomous oversight body to audit NAB processes, reducing politicisation risks.
Overall, the IMF’s assessment calls for a robust, credible system for asset verification, strengthened investigative capacity, and adherence to global best practices in anti-corruption governance, aiming to increase accountability and integrity across Pakistan’s federal and provincial administrations.
