Pakistan has assured the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that it will step up efforts to tackle corruption and improve governance, including a pledge to make the assets of senior government officials publicly available by December 2026.
The announcement comes as part of a wider reform programme aimed at strengthening transparency, modernising oversight, and bolstering public trust. Officials said the government plans to target the 10 departments most at risk of corruption and to enhance the capacity of law enforcement agencies to investigate complex financial crimes.
A digital platform will be introduced to collect and track asset declarations, while banks will gain controlled access to officials’ asset information, marking a significant move towards financial transparency.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will develop a database to monitor frozen, recovered, and returned assets, while reporting of suspicious financial transactions is set to increase, officials added. Dedicated units for asset recovery will be strengthened, and international agreements will be reviewed to improve the return of funds held abroad.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) will see greater autonomy, and the process for appointing its chairman will be made merit-based and transparent, with oversight from a commission including opposition representation. NAB will also conduct a national risk assessment of corruption this year, and its rules and performance reports will be made publicly available.
Authorities have committed to enhancing enforcement against money laundering, alongside creating a dedicated task force under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terror Financing Authority. The task force will bring together institutions including NAB, the FIA, FBR, SECP, and the Auditor General to coordinate efforts.
The reforms will be closely monitored by the IMF, with progress reports submitted every six months. Officials said the programme represents a broader push to modernise governance, strengthen institutions, and make Pakistan’s public sector more accountable and transparent.
