IMF objects to Pakistan law limiting public disclosure of lawmakers’ assets

The International Monetary Fund has raised concerns over recent legal amendments that limit public disclosure of assets held by members of parliament, The Express Tribune reported, citing officials involved in discussions between the Fund and Pakistani authorities.

The Fund questioned amendments to the Elections Act, 2017, approved by the National Assembly, that restrict public access to statements of assets and liabilities filed by lawmakers. The amendments introduce provisions allowing the extent of disclosure in the official gazette and documents provided to the public to be determined by the speaker of the concerned assembly or, in the case of the Senate, by the chairman.

Officials said the IMF indicated that limiting access to such information could conflict with the Fund’s governance and anti-corruption framework, which emphasises transparency in the disclosure of assets held by public officials.

Tribune cited sources as saying that the Election Commission of Pakistan informed the IMF that it does not support measures that restrict public access to information about the assets of elected representatives. The Law Division also told the Fund that the government has not formally endorsed the amendments, which were introduced in the National Assembly as a private member’s bill.

The amendments have not yet become law because they still require approval from the Senate.

The IMF’s questions come as Pakistan has committed under its $7 billion Extended Fund Facility programme to improve transparency in asset declarations by public officials. As part of those commitments, the government amended the Civil Servants Act to require public disclosure of assets held by federal bureaucrats.

Separately, the IMF also sought information about recent amendments to the National Accountability Ordinance.

The amendments allow the chairman of the National Accountability Bureau to serve a three-year term that can be extended once for an additional three years by the federal government. Earlier provisions had set a non-extendable three-year tenure.

President Asif Ali Zardari approved the NAO (Amendment) Bill, 2026 last week, allowing the incumbent chairman to continue in office under the revised provisions.

Officials said the government informed the IMF that earlier changes made in 2022 had removed the option of extending the NAB chairman’s tenure, which had drawn concerns from the Fund at the time.

The IMF’s Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Assessment has previously highlighted the need for more transparent procedures for appointments to key accountability institutions, including the NAB chairmanship.