Why do Anti-corruption Agencies Fail in Pakistan? A Phenomenological Study

Purpose: Pakistan's consistently poor ranking on the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) highlights the urgent need to address the pervasive corruption problem in the country. This study aims to explore the reason behind the failure of anti-corruption agencies in Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach: This study has adopted a phenomenological research design. Six in-depth interviews were conducted with government officials working in anti-corruption agencies. NVivo 20 software was used to analyze the data. Findings: The study identified three main themes; Political influence, legislation, and lack of capacity building. The finding indicates victimization, job insecurity, weak prosecution, self-beneficiary reforms by lawmakers, and lack of resources are the major reasons behind the failure of anti-corruption agencies in Pakistan. Practical implications: The study provides implications for policymakers, regulators, and anti-corruption agencies to formulate effective policies and regulations to combat corruption. Originality/value: To the best of the author's knowledge, this study is the first that explores the reasons behind the failure of anti-corruption agencies from the perspective of anti-corruption agencies.