ISLAMABAD: The International Monetary Fund has introduced a new condition requiring Pakistan to reform the appointment process of the National Accountability Bureau chairman, mandating a transparent and inclusive mechanism with representation from opposition parties.
According to government sources, Pakistan has assured the IMF that it will strengthen NAB’s autonomy and credibility by adopting a merit-based, open, and competitive selection process. The proposed reforms include establishing a multi-stakeholder commission comprising representatives from the government, opposition, judiciary, civil service, academia, and civil society to oversee the appointment.
The changes, which require amendments to the National Accountability Ordinance, are expected to be completed by January next year. The IMF has emphasised that institutional independence and transparency in NAB’s leadership are critical for improving governance and restoring public trust.
Under the agreed framework, the government will introduce predefined eligibility criteria for the NAB chairman, including experience and integrity standards. Additionally, NAB will be required to publish annual performance statistics covering investigations, prosecutions, and convictions.
The government has also committed to publishing the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) review report and has already released its Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Assessment.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has constituted an anti-corruption and AML/CFT committee, assigning NAB a central role in developing a comprehensive action plan to address corruption risks in key government departments.
The plan will include a structured methodology to identify high-risk entities, assess financial exposure to corruption, and evaluate institutional weaknesses. It will draw on data from multiple agencies, including the Federal Board of Revenue, the Federal Investigation Agency, and other oversight bodies.
To ensure accountability, the government will publish progress reports every six months and hold policy dialogues with development partners, civil society, and other stakeholders.
Further reforms include enhancing the capacity of provincial anti-corruption agencies to investigate financial crimes and money laundering, as well as introducing a digital system for asset declarations of senior civil servants. These declarations will be subject to risk-based verification and partial public disclosure.
The IMF’s conditions reflect a broader push to strengthen Pakistan’s anti-corruption framework, improve institutional transparency, and align governance practices with international standards.
Story by Shahbaz Rana
