The World Justice Project’s (WJP) Rule of Law Index for 2024 has revealed a slight improvement for Pakistan, which has moved up one position to rank 129th out of 142 countries assessed.
While this advancement from its previous ranking of 130th is noteworthy, Pakistan continues to face significant challenges across several critical areas, including civil and criminal justice, fundamental rights, open government, and regulatory enforcement.
The report provides a crucial evaluation of Pakistan’s justice system and governance, underscoring persistent issues such as corruption and security. Notably, Pakistan ranks 140th in the global category for order and security, placing it as the third worst in the world in this regard.
This ranking assesses the country’s effectiveness in crime control, protection against armed conflict, and the resolution of civil disputes, highlighting ongoing struggles within the justice system.
Regionally, Pakistan ranks fifth among six South Asian countries evaluated, reflecting a continual battle to uphold the rule of law. The country’s overall score has shown a downward trend from 2019 to 2023; however, the 2024 report suggests a reversal of that trend after five years of negative performance.
Key rankings for Pakistan in the 2024 WJP Rule of Law Index include:
- Criminal Justice: 98th globally, 4th regionally
- Civil Justice: 128th globally, 4th regionally
- Regulatory Enforcement: 127th globally, 5th regionally
- Fundamental Rights: 125th globally, 4th regionally
- Open Government: 106th globally, 4th regionally
- Absence of Corruption: 124th globally, 5th regionally
- Constraints on Government Powers: 103rd globally, 4th regionally
Despite the marginal improvement, these rankings highlight the ongoing challenges Pakistan faces in strengthening its rule of law and governance.
