IMF Pushes Pakistan to Strengthen NAB Autonomy and Anti-Corruption Reforms

ISLAMABAD: The International Monetary Fund has asked Pakistan to strengthen the independence and transparency of the National Accountability Bureau under its anti-corruption reform agenda.

According to the IMF’s latest staff report, Pakistan must table amendments to the NAB Ordinance in parliament by January 2027.

The proposed amendments will improve the appointment process for the NAB chairman.

IMF Seeks Greater Transparency

The IMF also directed authorities to publish NAB investigation and prosecution rules.

Officials must also release annual enforcement statistics.

Before introducing the amendments, the government must agree with the IMF on a corruption risk assessment methodology.

The plan will support a NAB-led anti-corruption strategy.

Authorities will also identify and publish corruption risks in the country’s top 10 high-risk government departments.

Government Expands Reform Measures

The government recently revised the Civil Servant Conduct Rules.

The changes will ensure online publication of asset declarations by senior federal civil servants by December 2026.

Last year, authorities also introduced the Prime Minister’s Economic Governance Reform Plan.

The plan followed recommendations from the IMF’s governance and corruption diagnostic assessment.

It includes 15 reform actions, timelines and performance indicators.

Authorities to Publish Progress Reports

Officials will publish reform progress reports every six months on the Ministry of Finance website.

The government is currently consulting stakeholders on the implementation framework.

NAB to Lead Corruption Risk Plan

The Anti-Corruption and AML/CFT Committee assigned NAB the task of preparing a corruption mitigation plan.

The plan will target the 10 departments facing the highest corruption risks.

By June 2026, the committee will finalize and publish a methodology for assessing corruption risks.

The framework will also define reporting procedures and corrective measures.

Provincial Bodies to Get More Powers

The government also committed to strengthening provincial anti-corruption institutions.

Authorities want these bodies to improve financial investigations at the provincial level.

Under the Anti-Money Laundering Act and National Fiscal Pact, the government will issue a federal notification by December 2026.

The notification will authorize provincial institutions to investigate money laundering cases.

New Asset Verification Framework Planned

To support public asset declarations, the Establishment Division will revise declaration forms by May 2026.

The changes will protect confidential personal information.

In coordination with the Federal Board of Revenue, officials will also develop a risk-based asset verification framework by June 2027.

The reforms form part of Pakistan’s broader commitments under the IMF programme to improve governance and accountability.