Corruption

Corruption

Outline:

1.      Introduction.

2.      Suffering of Pakistan with this evil.

3.      Causes

4.      Conclusion: Eradication

  

The noun corruption comes from Latin words “com”, meaning “with, together”, and “rumpere” meaning “to break”. Engaging in corruption can break or destroy someone’s trustworthiness and good reputation with others. For example news of corruption in your bank might cause shock and in result you immediately close your account and invest your money elsewhere.  

The simplest definition of corruption is the misuse of public power by elected politicians and appointed civil servants for personal private gain. Corruption is a great evil that has spread its poison in almost every single country in the world. As expected, developing countries suffer more from corruption than developed countries. The governments of all these countries are corrupt in almost everything, ranging from policy issues to infrastructure and developmental issues. Prime examples of countries rich in corruption are Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, African countries etc.

Corruption is basically when a person in power decides to exploit his power in making money for himself/herself. A corrupt person also accepts lots of bribes from people, and in return, approves illegal projects. Corruption happens because the government system is so infiltrated by people who have no morals and who come into power just to make money. In developing countries, people suffer so much to make money that whenever they get the chance; they exploit it to the fullest.

Currently, Pakistan is facing with a lot of very serious problems and in these problems corruption is the biggest one. The word corruption means obtaining personal gain, power or influence through illegitimate ways, often by using expenses. Pakistan is Islamic state, but unfortunately, Islamic democratic is not established in this Islamic state which gradually becomes curse on people of Pakistan. Due to this problem Pakistan is moving backward from other developed countries of the world. From the International Transparency it is reported that Pakistan is at 134^th position in the list of least corruption state. The fact is that the society of Pakistan is highly emerged into this disease. Not only the elite common but even the common man is suffering from this evil. While addressing to the constituent assembly of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam said, “One of the biggest curses from which India is suffering is bribery and corruption that really is a poison. We must put that down with an iron hand”.

His words were not directed at any particular group. He foresaw corruption as a deadly virus, a poison which could sap the very foundation of a state and lay it open to all kinds of dangers.

Corruption is caused due to many reasons but poverty is the major cause of corruption. People having low incomes use illegal means to achieve their goal and indulges in corruption.

It may be due to lack of regulation and accountability for instance if the government is not spending money on the needy people on the health or on their education and the government is putting money in their pockets then as a result people do not by their taxes as the government has lost his belief by not fulfilling basic necessities of people and the government becomes in the eyes of people. There are many institutes in Pakistan which are prone to corrupt such as police sector and in law enforcement sector, in legal professional and judiciary, power sector in customs and taxes, land administration, education and health sector.

In order to remove corruption from its roots then it is necessary to cut down its causes first. Leaders of Pakistan should take strict measures and take strict actions against corrupt system. True Islamic system should be implemented that must be based on democracy. There must be political stability in country and power politics should be removed. Leaders must be sincere. Everyone should be accountable without any discrimination. Both ruling elite and common man should be treated with the same law. Some radical steps should be taken by government to lesson poverty. Jobs opportunities must be created and respective jobs should be given to every educated person. Some radical steps should be taken as political reforms including financing of political parties and elections, economic reforms, regulating markets and financial sectors, financial controls, public supervision, media, local administrations and councils, free access to information and data, maintaining law and order improving and strengthening of judicial system, institutional reforms, tax systems, customs reforms, public administration in general, civil society organizational NGOs.

Corruption also creates a bad image of the country in other countries. Rich countries often give aid in the form of money and goods to the poor countries. If they so much as get a whiff that corruption is being done in the handling of the funds, they decide to withdraw their support, never to offer it again. Pakistan has suffered from this misfortune many times due to its corrupt leaders being discovered by aid organizations and governments abroad.

Thus, it can be seen that corruption is a very big problem for countries across the world, and it has a lot of disadvantages. It discourages trade, investment, and friendly relations between countries. It is imperative that the developing nations should install strict measures that protect against this evil.

We know that corruption will not disappear from our society. Our efforts are meant to restrict corruption and to protect the poor and the weak in our societies. In the end corruption costs are paid by the consumer and tax payers. They need protection.   

By the word corruption we mean that any act done by unfair means. Corruption may also be defined as illegal bribe which is received for doing some work for somebody. In the society of man, where everything or any action is done in an unfair manner, corruption becomes a curse. it is such a practice that it eats up the fabric of the society. Corruption in its wider sense has always been there at all times. There has only been a difference of degree. In monarchies the king’s favor is necessary to get thing done. Now-a-days, it has been observed that if the head of the department is not fair the whole department is involved in corrupt practices. It is said power corrupt man. Whenever a man has power to do something which the other man need, the doer takes some benefit out of it. As long as this benefit is sanctioned by social laws and moral codes, it is all right. Beyond that it becomes corruption, corruption also flourishes through flattery.  

In Pakistan today, the position is very bad. The devil of corruption is reining every field of national activity. The unfair practices are so rampant that a common man feels frustrated. In his disgust he exclaims that corruption is a curse. it has stolen our peace of mind. The condition of government offices is very deplorable. Police railways and transport are the departments which are supposed to be the servants of the people. But you cannot expect a slight action any of these department without spending illegal money. An honest man cannot even get a seat in a railway train without having to offer a bribe. It is said that the paper moves only when some silver weight is put on it. There are many departments where corruption has become a norm of their life. It has gone deep down in their flesh. They cannot think without unfair money. It is no more unfair. It has become their right. It is clear that unless the trend is checked, the country cannot make any progress. It cannot achieve the goal of prosperity and self-reliance.

It is high time that the government should rise to the occasion and take a bold step to discard and uproot its forces, before it becomes too late for us. This is a great challenge to all members of a good society. The long-term solution of this problem lies in the building of a sound national character. For this purpose we should change the entire system of education. We should make our education ethical, moral and patriotic. Besides this we shall have to make use of all means of propaganda viz., the press, publications, the radio and the television to achieve this goal. We shall have to create an atmosphere where honesty is appreciated and rewarded. These are some of the steps which can effectively root out this evil.