ISLAMABAD: A leading anti-corruption watchdog has raised serious concerns over the continued delay in the passage of Pakistan’s key whistleblower protection legislation, warning that the holdup risks undermining both international commitments and domestic governance reforms.
In a detailed communication addressed to the prime minister, Transparency International Pakistan noted that the Whistleblower Protection and Vigilance Commission Bill, 2025 has remained pending before the National Assembly of Pakistan for nearly a year, despite having cleared critical stages of the legislative process. The organisation acknowledged that the bill was approved by the federal cabinet and later unanimously passed by the Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice, chaired by Farooq Hamid Naek, in May 2025. However, it stressed that the lack of progress since then reflects a concerning legislative slowdown on a matter central to transparency and accountability.
The delay comes in the context of its obligations under the United Nations Convention against Corruption, which the country ratified in 2007. Articles 8.4 and 13.2 of the convention require member states to establish mechanisms that facilitate the reporting of corruption and ensure protection against retaliation for whistleblowers.
According to the watchdog, the absence of such a legal framework limits Pakistan’s ability to detect corruption early, particularly in high-risk sectors, and weakens broader reform efforts. The letter...
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