Pakistan has rolled out a comprehensive 15-point action plan in response to the Governance and Diagnostic Assessment Report (GCD) as it prepares for the upcoming International Monetary Fund review mission. The move is designed to address systemic corruption vulnerabilities, strengthen institutional governance, and identify the top 10 high-risk federal agencies with macro-critical exposures, according to a report published in The News.
The reform blueprint is detailed in a 240-page document that lays out structured criteria and analytical frameworks for evaluating court performance, including the effectiveness of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. The document places particular emphasis on building analytic and predictive capabilities to enable active case management across the judicial system. By integrating performance metrics with data-driven assessment tools, the government aims to enhance transparency and reduce inefficiencies that contribute to prolonged economic litigation.
A central objective of the action plan is to reduce the backlog of economic and commercial disputes. During the first year of implementation, authorities will develop a standardized methodology to assess court and judicial performance. In the second year, the government intends to publish a consolidated performance report covering all Administrative Tribunals and Special Courts dealing with economic and commercial matters. This phased approach signals a shift toward measurable accountability within institutions that directly influence the country’s business climate.
Legislative reform is also a key pillar of the plan, particularly in relation to the Anti-Money Laundering framework. The Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism Authority will establish a Joint Working Group to review the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2010. The review will focus on removing ambiguities, especially those linked to the requirement of predicate offence convictions for prosecuting money laundering cases. Proposed amendments will be submitted to Parliament, with implementation targeted for completion by June 2027.
The National Accountability Bureau will spearhead the preparation of a national corruption risk assessment. This initiative will be carried out in coordination with the Federal Investigation Agency and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan. The assessment will concentrate on identifying corruption risks within federal institutions, particularly those considered macro-critical due to their economic footprint or regulatory authority. By mapping vulnerabilities at the institutional level, authorities intend to create a structured roadmap for mitigation.
Oversight of the broader anti-corruption architecture will rest with the National Anti-Corruption Task Force established under the AML/CFT Authority. The task force will supervise the development of a centralized Corruption Risk Assessment Framework. This framework will guide the identification of the top 10 high-risk agencies and shape a detailed risk reduction strategy. The strategy will include systemic reforms, agency-specific interventions, clearly defined Key Performance Indicators, and assigned responsibilities across ministries and departments.
On the financial intelligence front, the Financial Monitoring Unit will introduce new corruption-specific reporting guidelines aimed at enhancing the quality of Suspicious Transaction Reports. These revised standards are expected to sharpen the detection of illicit financial flows linked to corruption cases and strengthen inter-agency coordination.
In a move reflecting the evolving financial landscape, the Pakistan Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority will be integrated into the reporting framework. This inclusion is intended to expand oversight to digital and virtual asset transactions, aligning regulatory monitoring with emerging financial technologies.
Collectively, the measures form part of Pakistan’s broader governance reform agenda aligned with IMF expectations. By combining legislative amendments, institutional risk mapping, judicial performance evaluation, and enhanced financial reporting, the government is positioning the action plan as a structural response to long-standing governance challenges with macroeconomic implications.
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