The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has called on Pakistan to tighten measures against corruption and misuse of public office, warning that current systems to identify politically influential figures remain inconsistent.

The IMF recently sent Pakistan the initial draft of its Corruption Diagnostic Assessment Mission report, urging the government to review and act on its recommendations before the final version is released later this month.

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The report, prepared under a $7 billion agreement, comes after the IMF mission met with representatives from 36 government and state institutions. Originally scheduled for publication in July 2025, the report’s release was delayed to August at Pakistan’s request.

Key findings on corruption gaps

According to sources, the IMF has stressed the need for more robust measures to detect corruption and abuse of public office—particularly in government contracts.

Key challenges identified include:

Limited access to comprehensive data on politically influential individuals.
Lack of automated screening tools in smaller institutions.
No effective mechanism for flagging abuse of public office.

Praise for certain anti-corruption steps

Despite the criticism, the IMF acknowledged progress made by key regulators.

The State Bank of Pakistan, Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) were commended for taking steps against corrupt practices.

Recommendations for reform

The IMF has directed Pakistan to study successful anti-corruption models from other countries and issue new guidelines to strengthen enforcement.

The lender believes that better data access, improved screening tools, and consistent enforcement could help Pakistan address systemic weaknesses and build public trust.