Corruption soars in 2019 as compared to 2018 in Pakistan: TI.

BERLIN/ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan ranked 120 out of 180 countries in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2019 released by Transparency International (TI) on Thursday, slipping by three spots from the previous year's ranking despite increased anti-corruption efforts.

On a scale of zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean), Pakistan was assigned a score of 32, a point lower than its score of 33 on the 2018 index and well below the global average of 43.

The CPI ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption, drawing on 13 expert assessments and surveys of business executives. Last year, Pakistan's ranking stood at 117, same as in 2017, although it's score had slightly increased to 33.

The CPI uses a scale from 0 to 100, in which 100 is very clean and 0 is highly corrupt. Shockingly, two-third of 180 countries have scored below 50, whereas the average score is 43 out of 100. However, TI said that more than two-thirds of countries on its list scored below 50 on the index this year.

The Berlin-based non-profit releases the index every year, ranking 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption according to experts and business people. Pakistan was ranked at the 117th place for the years 2017 and 2018.

The country had scored 33/100 on the CPI in 2018 and 32/100 in 2017. Although Pakistan's score on the index has not changed much compared to the past year, changes in the scores of other countries on the list can be one reason why Pakistan slipped in the ranking.

'The lack of real progress against corruption in most countries is disappointing and has profound negative effects on citizens around the world,' said Patricia Moreira, Managing Director of Transparency International. 'To have any chance of ending corruption and improving peoples' lives, we must tackle the relationship between politics and big money. All citizens must be represented in decision making.'

Countries in which elections and political party financing are open to undue influence from vested interests are less able to combat corruption, the analysis of the results finds.

'Frustration with government corruption and lack of trust in institutions speaks to a need for greater political integrity,' said Delia Ferreira Rubio, chair of Transparency International. 'Governments must urgently address the corrupting role of big money in political party financing and the undue influence it exerts on our political systems.'

More than two-thirds of countries score below 50, with an average score of only 43. Since 2012, only 22 countries have significantly improved their scores including Estonia, Greece and Guyana. Twenty-one have significantly declined including Australia, Canada and Nicaragua.

Transparency International research shows several of the most advanced economies cannot afford to be complacent if they are to keep up their anti-corruption momentum. Four G7 countries score lower than last year: Canada (-4), France (-3), the UK (-3) and the US (-2). Germany and Japan have seen no improvement...