Published on, Aug. 31 -- August 31, 2025 1:14 AM

Pakistan turns 78 this year. With a population of nearly 255 million, the country remains a developing nation. In its lifetime, Pakistan has fought four wars, endured three military coups, countless unstable governments, over two dozen devastating floods and seven destructive earthquakes. Yet despite turbulence and crises, the state has survived, clinging to its sovereignty against immense odds.

But one enemy has grown stronger with every passing decade: corruption.

Corruption in Pakistan is no longer the act of a few individuals; it has become systemic and deeply embedded in governance, politics, and public culture. At the very top, deals and arrangements often serve private pockets ove...