December 9 is International Anti-Corruption Day

By Nooreen Khan Peshawar

World Anti-Corruption Day is celebrated on December 9 every year. It is a day dedicated to raising awareness about the devastating effects of corruption on societies and economies around the world. The day is an opportunity to promote and strengthen measures to prevent and combat corruption, as well as to celebrate individuals and institutions that have played an important role in the fight against corruption.

Corruption Corruption is a complex and pervasive problem that affects governments, businesses and communities in both developed and developing countries. It undermines trust, erodes public confidence, and hinders economic growth. It diverts public resources from essential services such as health care, education and infrastructure, and perpetuates poverty and inequality.

  The United Nations (UN) plays an important role in promoting global efforts to combat corruption. The United Nations Convention against Corruption, adopted in 2003, is the primary international legal instrument for preventing, detecting and punishing corruption. It establishes a comprehensive framework for cooperation among countries to combat corruption through measures such as law enforcement, asset recovery, and international cooperation.

  On World Anti-Corruption Day, governments, civil society organizations and individuals around the world come together to raise awareness about corruption, its consequences and the actions needed to combat it. Activities include public awareness campaigns, May include conferences, workshops, art exhibitions, and integrity pledge events.

  The day serves as a reminder that everyone has a role to play in the fight against corruption. It calls on governments to strengthen legal frameworks and policies, promote transparency and accountability, and ensure effective implementation of anti-corruption measures. It also encourages individuals to speak out against corruption, report incidents of bribery or fraud, and uphold ethical standards in their personal and professional lives.

If we talk about the dear country, Pakistan is number 117 in this list of 180 countries. Since the establishment of Pakistan, we are facing this serious problem. Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Janah addressed the first Legislative Assembly and said, "The biggest responsibility of our government is to end corruption because corruption is the root of many evils." This is the bitter truth, we could not eliminate corruption in many years. It is not the democratic governments responsible for corruption in the country as a whole, but the political class in lust for power and the mafia and their artificial system are the main cause. Corruption became common due to political instability, instead of accountability, political revenge weakened the institutions. Legislation against corruption continued in various forms from the implementation of the Prevention of Corruption Act in 1947 to the existence of NAB on November 6, 1999, but the process of corruption could not be stopped. Referring to the recent report of the World Bank, Transparency International has said that corruption is the main reason for hindering the development of Pakistan. Lack of transparency and corruption lead to delays in procurement, leading to shortages in the provision of basic infrastructure in the water, electricity, irrigation and transport sectors

In this report, it is stated that at the request of Pakistan, the World Bank and the Planning Commission, the Government of Pakistan has issued a report in February 2008, in which it has been confirmed and verified that fifteen percent of the procurement of the development budget of Pakistan. I fall prey to corruption.

Due to large-scale corruption, the financial problems that were supposed to provide employment, education, health, food for the people, the personal accounts of those who accumulate illegal wealth have been converted into properties and assets abroad. Corruption and poverty are twin sisters. International Anti-Corruption Day provides an opportunity to reflect on progress made in combating corruption and to renew our commitment to a more transparent, accountable and inclusive society. It reminds us that together, we can build a world free of corruption, where institutions are trusted, and resources are used for the common good.