Government and Police Corruption
Discuss about the Corruption in Pakistan and the possible ways the government can implement to minimize it.
Corruption is an act that paralyses progress whether it’s an institution, organization, company or a government. When any individual in power or not decides to upset protocol and give credit to someone or something or situation that does not deserve, we call it corruption. It is the act of impairing integrity, giving bribery to receive a service. Corruption not only slows progress but it also suppresses people and kills their morale, making them to lose confidence and interest in undertaking anything. In itself, it is like a disease that if not treated on time can cause death of a country economically, socially, politically, and in every way possible. The government should always come up with a way to minimize corruption even if it’s gradually. Laws should be set up by the judiciary to punish those who engage in giving bribery severely so that it can act as an example to others.
The act of corruption in Pakistan has been found to be practiced in government and in police department. Ahmed and Mashkoor ( 2016). The country was ranked one hundred and seventeen out of one hundred and eighty as the most corrupted country in the year twenty seventeen by the transparency international’s corruption perception index. Often, ordinary citizens face challenges whenever they try to report corruption cases to the police since they are one sector that are totally corrupt and brutal in handling citizens. An example is given of a 23-year-old woman who was detained for fifteen days and raped when she reported a mater concerning corruption of police to them Benito (2015). This is so saddening since police officers are supposed to represent the government locally and help citizens live peacefully, fairly and relate normally but then they did the exact opposite by not taking action and even committing a very offensive act of rape. This shows how corrupt the department is. Being so unfair to locking up an innocent concerned citizen is unbelievable of them. Bray ( 201
Education sector is also found to be so corrupt in that funds given by the government are embezzled by management and due to this they have to come up with ghost schools-schools that do not exist for accountability. Chaudry (2017). This denies students their right to formal education causing inconvenience in schools that need to be developed for example if they are to build laboratories, classrooms, dormitories and other infrastructure. Students in such schools tend to perform poorly at the end of the day despite of them going through other challenges at their respective homes as well Farooq et al ( 2013. Appointing under qualified teachers since they will be paid less instead of those qualified ones who seem to cost much is insane since students will not be able to access quality education. Students will probably be affected in their respective subjects due to teachers who give less, false or no content at all about a particular subject. Such schools tend to have poor management who cannot take into consideration the students complaints. Gangl et al (2015)
Education Corruption
Taxation department also has been reported to be corrupt. Considering a case where 32% respondents reported that they had to pay up so that their tax assessment could be reduced while a 14% claimed that they received tax assessment that was just fixed and it was to be normalized not until they give a bribe Ismail and Rashid ( 2013). Tax is supposed to be paid genuinely not reduced or increased suddenly and if so, the government is supposed to communicate any changes Jackson et al ( 2014). It is unfair to reduce certain individual’s taxes because they have given bribe or increase those of others not until they give bribe. Every citizen has a responsibility to pay tax in order to boost the economic status of a country. The tax should be equal for every product bought or service received. Karmann ( 2013)
Healthcare corruption is also rampant in Pakistan whereby those seeking medical help in hospitals were gaining access to hospitals services not in standard admission that a patient is supposed to follow so as to get treatment Pontzer (2011). Unethical services given by nurses and doctors who are corrupt enough to accept bribes even from the sick or their families. This came from 42% of surveyed individual and the 48% claimed to have bribed the hospital attendants so as to access the essential services or they were forced to use substandard admission Sohail, Arslan and Zaman (2014). The right of citizens is always violated whenever corruption crops up, they are treated inhumanly with less respect and concern. When sick individuals are forced to bribe to get services in hospital and some of them cannot afford, they may die in the process. It is not good for public utilities of the government to be turned into a profit earning business and the government should surely deal with an immediate effect with such situation. Ahmed and Mashkoor ( 2016)
Sports corruption was noted when three cricket players were sentenced to prison due to illegal betting practices. While two of the players received one year and six months in prison, the third one was sentenced to two years eight months in prison Benito (2015). All of them had committed the same crime but one was sentenced more years as a result of corruption. People have to pay to buy their freedom or reduce their time in prison while those with no money are given more years with severe punishment Chaudry (2017). It is up to the government to regulate so as to minimize such cases in a country. Every wing should come into realization of the effect they cause to themselves, to the government and to citizens in general. A people treated poorly will produce poor results in their work since they lack motivation and they do the work with attitude and less Farooq et al. ( 2013)
Taxation Corruption
A Pakistan that is ideal for the upcoming generation is what every responsible parent could want and dream for their children Gangl et al (2015). It should be a state that minds its citizen point of view of issues, honest and do things openly to everyone. The future lies on the hands of both the citizens and those in power. They should be accountable for all their actions and take responsibility of it as well. Not only those in power are to be considered corrupt but corruption is an involvement of two parties; the giver and the receiver. Both parties should be criticized and action taken against them immediately. This kind of strategy is a bit hard to be implemented but it is necessary, therefore if Pakistan can stand out, then other countries can emulate the same and do it also Ismail and Rashid ( 2013). One of the major ways to deal with corruption is promoting accountability. Identifying the corrupt individual or party and criticizing them as law breakers and inconsiderate citizens especially the corrupt ones is easy Johnston ( 2017) but for government, heroes should be surely awarded, celebrated and cherished since they came out boldly to fight corruption. Bringing in the private sector to motivate and encourage change can work out well for example the Pakistan Business Community that is renowned for its good leaders who emphasize and practice honesty and are pretty aware about the goodness of integrity is in business. They can be invited to forums and talk to people and emphasize the spirit of integrity. Karmann ( 2013).
The idea of young people leading change in Pakistan is correct and should be supported. The average age being mostly youths in their early twenties, they have embraced the digital and western lifestyle; they are still strong health wise and full of ideas that can lead to innovations. Pontzer (2011). They are less established businesswise and are more willing to question whatsoever they see or hear. All the same, it doesn’t mean all is going to be different Sohail,Arslan and Zaman (2014). They need support over time to sustain the change they want to see like providing them with capital to start their own businesses so that they can meet their own needs instead of being over dependant on their parents and guardians. They can do much better if provided with capital and despite political challenges, the government should aim at building a favorable environment to support these young change-makers, mentor them, opening their eyes to see opportunities. Ahmed and Mashkoor ( 2016)
Healthcare Corruption
Being creative in some way is also a form of fighting corruption whereby seminars and forums are organized and young people brought to this process effectively by meeting them where they are since they are the leaders of tomorrow Benito (2015). This can be achieved involving them in activities they like and enjoy, exposing them to the most recent technology and grouping them differently according to their areas of interest like those who enjoy drawing and painting, making films, singing, reciting poems. Also, the government should create organizations that will come up and enforce rules to curb corruption problems in a great way Bray ( 2010). Pakistan has half a dozen corruption bodies at the national level that have been set to fight corruption nationwide. They should just be followed up to ensure they deal with corruption and corrupt individuals. Chaudry (2017
Conclusion
If the spirit of team work is encouraged in a country whereby the government work with its citizens to ensure enforced laws are taken into consideration, followed and respected then the problem of individuals or organizations being corrupt will be reduced or done with forever. Gangl et al (2015). Encouraging responsibility in everyday activities and working towards the same goal of ensuring fairness in service and interaction with fellow countrymen is discouraging the act of being corrupt. A corruption free country is a economic stable country with happy, responsible, satisfied citizens who are ready to work together to boost their living slandered and make their country a better place in the universe to foster innovations and encourage its growth now and in future Jackson et al ( 2014)
References
Ahmed, O. And Mashkoor, A. (2016). Corruption and Modes of Project Evaluation in Pakistan. SSRN Electronic Journal.
Ali, J. And Nyborg, I. (2010). Corruption or an Alternative System? Re-assessing Corruption and the role of the Forest Services in the Northern Areas, Pakistan. International Forestry Review, 12(3), pp.209-220.
Benito, B. (2015). Can Salaries Prevent Local Government Politicians from Corruption?. Review of Public Administration and Management, 03(01).
Benito, B. (2015). Can Salaries Prevent Local Government Politicians from Corruption?. Review of Public Administration and Management, 03(01).
Bray, D. (2010). How Collaborations Can Improve Government Performance. SSRN Electronic Journal.
Chaudry, Z. (2017). The Culture of Corruption in Pakistan. SSRN Electronic Journal.
Farooq, A., Shahbaz, M., Arouri, M. And Teulon, F. (2013). Does corruption impede economic growth in Pakistan?. Economic Modelling, 35, pp.622-633.
Gangl, K., Kirchler, E., Lorenz, C. And Torgler, B. (2015). Wealthy Tax Non-Filers in a Developing Country: Taxpayer Knowledge, Perceived Corruption and Service Orientation in Pakistan. SSRN Electronic Journal.
Ismail, A. And Rashid, K. (2013). Time series analysis of the nexus among corruption, political instability and judicial inefficiency in Pakistan. Quality & Quantity, 48(5), pp.2757-2771.
Jackson, J., Asif, M., Bradford, B. And Zakria Zakar, M. (2014). Corruption and Police Legitimacy in Lahore, Pakistan. British Journal of Criminology, 54(6), pp.1067-1088.
Johnston, M. (2017). The corruption cure: how citizens and leaders can combat graft. International Affairs, 93(6), pp.1481-1482.
Karmann, T. (2013). Managing Corruption: How Top Management’s Leadership Style and Control Systems Can Reduce Corruption. SSRN Electronic Journal.
Pontzer, L. (2011). If Words Could Kill: Can the Government Regulate Any Online Speech?. Pittsburgh Journal of Environmental and Public Health Law,
Sohail, M., Arslan, M. And Zaman, R. (2014). The Impact of Corruption on Firm Performance: Evidence from Pakistan. SSRN Electronic Journal.
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