Overview
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on December 9 renewed Pakistan’s resolve to eliminate corruption under the UN’s youth-focused theme and said NAB and other bodies are working to ensure accountability across institutions.
- The president highlighted past recoveries of public funds and cautioned that accountability agencies must remain apolitical, transparent and professional to retain public confidence.
- NAB commemorated the day on December 8, a day earlier than the UN’s observance, in a move presented as underscoring the urgency of governance reforms.
- Coverage stresses that corruption is a structural drag on competitiveness and disproportionately harms Pakistan’s youth, who make up nearly 64 percent of the population and face underfunded education, job scarcity and opaque hiring.
- Experts point to the pending Whistleblower Protection and Vigilance Commission Bill 2025 and urge full implementation alongside AI, blockchain and data tools and stronger private‑sector ethics to turn pledges into measurable results.