PAN, December 5, 2012

Anti-graft watchdog says Afghanistan most corrupt nation

In 2010 and 2011, Afghanistan was listed as the second most corrupt nation with 15 and 11 marks respectively

By Javed Hamim Kakar

An international anti-graft watchdog on Wednesday ranked Afghanistan, North Korea and Somalia as world’s top most corrupt countries in the world.

The Berlin-based Transparency International in its 2012 Corruption Perceptions Index report, covering 174 countries, revealed that Afghanistan scored eight marks out of 100 -- similar to North Korea and Somalia.

In 2010 and 2011, Afghanistan was listed as the second most corrupt nation with 15 and 11 marks respectively.

While Denmark, Finland and New Zealand were the best transparent countries with 90 marks.

The agency ranked countries on a scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (no corruption).

Pakistan plagued with nagging graft dropped to 33rd spot this year, compared to its 42nd position last year, while neighbouring India was in the 34th spot this year.

However, Afghanistan Anti-Corruption Network Chairman Dr Shafiq Hamdam expressed his concern over the recent rankings and said “instead of going upwards, we are moving downwards.”

He urged the government to take stern actions against any offenders instead of merely making anti-graft slogans to eradicate the menace.

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