By SKM
April 13, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Transparency International Pakistan (TIP) has sounded the alarm over a prolonged delay in the passage of Pakistan’s crucial whistleblower protection law, cautioning that the continued stalemate could undermine the country’s global commitments and weaken its anti-corruption drive.
In a strongly worded communication to the Prime Minister, TIP said the Whistleblower Protection and Vigilance Commission Bill, 2025 has remained stuck in the National Assembly of Pakistan for nearly a year, despite clearing key legislative hurdles.
While acknowledging that the bill was approved by the federal cabinet and unanimously cleared by the Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice—headed by Farooq Hamid Naek—in May 2025, the watchdog warned that the lack of movement since then signals a troubling slowdown on a reform widely seen as central to transparency and accountability.
The delay, TIP noted, puts Pakistan at risk of falling short of its obligations under the United Nations Convention against Corruption, which the country ratified in 2007. The convention requires states to establish mechanisms for reporting corruption and protecting whistleblowers from retaliation.
“Enactment of the law would send a strong signal of Pakistan’s commitment to transparency and integrity,” TIP emphasized, urging swift legislative action.
The issue has also been flagged by the International Monetary Fund in its recent Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Assessment, which identifies the establishment of a whistleblower protection regime as a key reform priority for improving governance and curbing corruption.
According to TIP, the absence of such legal safeguards hampers early detection of corruption, particularly in high-risk sectors, and weakens the effectiveness of broader reform initiatives.
The organization linked the stalled bill to ongoing economic governance reforms, including efforts to conduct a national corruption risk assessment and implement mitigation strategies. It stressed that whistleblower protection is a critical tool for identifying financial misconduct and regulatory violations at an early stage.
TIP also invoked Article 19-A of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to information—a principle reinforced in a landmark 2023 Supreme Court ruling led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, declaring access to information a fundamental right.
Clarifying its position, TIP said it is acting not as a complainant but as a whistleblower in the public interest, advocating stronger accountability mechanisms across state institutions.
The watchdog called on the Prime Minister to intervene and expedite the bill’s passage, warning that continued delays could dent public trust and send negative signals to international partners.
The proposed legislation seeks to establish an independent commission to receive disclosures, guarantee confidentiality, and protect whistleblowers from retaliation—measures experts say are vital for strengthening institutional integrity.
With Pakistan under increasing scrutiny to deliver on governance reforms, the fate of the whistleblower law is emerging as a key test of the government’s commitment to transparency and rule of law.
Ends
