Pakistan moves up in global corruption index, ranks 42

Karachi, Nov.17 (ANI): Pakistan ranks 42nd in the global list of most corrupt countries, the Transparency International's (TI) latest report has revealed.

The TI's report said Pakistan has gained few positions from last year and now stands at 42nd place in the list of most corrupt countries in which Somalia, Afghanistan are seen as the most corrupt among 180 nations.

New Zealand and Denmark are the two least corrupt countries in the world, The News reports.

New Zealand was the top-ranked country with a score of 9.4, followed by Denmark at 9.3, and Singapore and Sweden, both on 9.2, the report said.

Releasing the annual report, the TI chief in Pakistan, Adeel Gilani, said anti-corruption efforts in the country had taken a 180-degree turn after the then President General Pervez Musharraf issued the National Reconciliation Ordinance in October 2007.

Countries that improved their position on the list included the United States, whose points rose to 7.5 from 7.3.

TI cited Washington's swift response to the financial crisis, including reforms demanding greater transparency and accountability as one of the prime reasons of such a change. (ANI)