ISLAMABAD: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has asked Pakistan to do more in terms of reforms in the process of appointing the chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), linking future disbursements to greater transparency and inclusivity in governance.
Media report cited lender’s latest conditions saying that the NAB chief must be selected through a commission that includes representatives from opposition parties, the judiciary, civil society and academia. The government has committed to amending the NAB Ordinance by January 2027 to formalise this process.
The IMF’s demand comes amid longstanding criticism of NAB’s appointment mechanism, which has often been marred by political manoeuvring and extensions. The Fund has emphasised that institutional independence is essential to restoring public trust in Pakistan’s anti-corruption framework.
Reports suggest officials in Islamabad have assured the IMF that future appointments will be based on merit, with criteria focusing on experience, integrity and transparency. The government has also agreed to publish NAB’s annual statistics and reports under the United Nations Convention against Corruption.
Beyond NAB, the IMF has pressed for wider governance reforms. By December 2026, senior federal civil servants will be required to file digital asset declarations, subject to risk-based verification. Provincial anti-corruption agencies will be tasked with investigating financial crimes linked to corruption, while the Finance Ministry will publish six-monthly progress reports and hold policy dialogues with civil society and development partners.
