ISLAMABAD: The Transparency International 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) shows that Pakistan has improved its score, moving seven spots from 140 out of 180 countries in 2022 to 133 in 2023.

The CPI ranks 180 countries and territories around the globe by their perceived levels of public sector corruption, scoring on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).

Over two-thirds of countries score below 50 out of 100, which strongly indicates that they have serious corruption problems. The global average is stuck at only 43, while the vast majority of countries have made no progress or declined in the last decade. What is more, 23 countries fell to their lowest scores to date this year, TI said. 

Pakistan’s score for 2023 improved to 133 from 140 in 2022.

“Corruption will continue to thrive until justice systems can punish wrongdoing and keep governments in check. When justice is bought or politically interfered with, it is the people that suffer,” François Valérian, Chair of Transparency International, said in a statement.

“Leaders should fully invest in and guarantee the independence of institutions that uphold the law and tackle corruption. It is time to end impunity for corruption.”

Every region is either stagnant in its overall corruption efforts or showing signs of decline, TI’s report said. However, a few countries have significantly improved their scores in the last decade, showing that progress is possible in any environment.

While Western Europe and the European Union remain the top-scoring region, its regional average score dropped to 65 this year, as checks and balances weaken and political integrity erodes. Despite improvement in some countries, Sub-Saharan Africa maintains the lowest average at 33, with democracy and the rule of law under pressure.

The rest of the world remains stagnant with all other regions having averages under 50. Eastern Europe and Central Asia grapples with the dysfunctional rule of law, rising authoritarianism and systemic corruption.

“The Middle East and North Africa shows little improvement, reflecting ongoing struggles with political corruption and conflict, and Asia Pacific shows long-term stagnation, although some countries historically at the top are backsliding,” TI said. 

“Finally, lack of judicial independence and weak rule of law are enabling widespread impunity in the Americas.”