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Evidence brief

How to report corruption in Pakistan: official channels and safer options

Where to report corruption in Pakistan: NAB, FIA, provincial anti-corruption bodies and the Ombudsman, what a complaint needs, and how to stay safer.

Published 18 October 2026, Guide

Last reviewed 18 October 2026. Procedures, helplines and portals change; check the official source before relying on this guide.

Pakistan has several official channels for reporting corruption and maladministration. Which one fits depends on who is involved, whether they are federal or provincial officials, and what you want to happen. This guide sets out the main channels, what a complaint needs, the limits of whistleblower protection and how to reduce your own risk.

Choosing the right channel

ChannelWhat it handles
National Accountability Bureau (NAB)Corruption and corrupt practices under the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999, including by public office holders
FIA Anti-Corruption WingCorruption involving federal government officials and federal funds
Provincial anti-corruption establishmentsCorruption by provincial government employees
Wafaqi Mohtasib (Federal Ombudsman)Maladministration by federal agencies: delay, neglect, unfair or unlawful decisions
Pakistan Citizen's PortalGeneral complaints routed to federal and provincial offices
Departmental channelsInternal complaints to the head of the office or its vigilance cell

National Accountability Bureau

NAB accepts complaints through its online complaint system, its regional offices, its helpline and in writing. It says complaints should be supported by evidence. Each complaint first goes through complaint verification, a check of whether it falls within NAB's jurisdiction and has enough substance for an inquiry. NAB says it discourages anonymous, pseudonymous and frivolous complaints. Amendments to NAB's law since 2022, which the Supreme Court upheld in 2024, narrowed its remit, including a minimum value for cases. Smaller matters may belong with the FIA or a provincial body.

Federal Investigation Agency

The FIA's Anti-Corruption Wing oversees field circles that investigate corruption by federal government officials and misuse of federal funds. It runs an online complaint portal, a complaints email address and a helpline. It also receives complaints forwarded by ministries, Parliament and the Wafaqi Mohtasib.

Provincial anti-corruption establishments

Each province has an anti-corruption establishment for its own public servants, such as the Anti-Corruption Establishment Punjab and the Sindh Enquiries and Anti-Corruption Establishment. Their services include complaint handling, enquiries and case registration. Check the provincial body's website or helpline for its current complaint route.

Wafaqi Mohtasib

The Wafaqi Mohtasib deals with maladministration by federal agencies rather than criminal corruption. Filing is free and needs no lawyer. Complaints should generally be made within three months of the grievance and are meant to be resolved within 60 days. It does not take anonymous complaints, cases already in court, foreign affairs or defence matters, or an employee's service grievance against their own employer. Provinces have their own ombudsman offices.

Pakistan Citizen's Portal

Run by the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit, the Citizen's Portal is a mobile app that routes complaints to federal and provincial offices. It suits service failures. It is not a confidential reporting channel, as the complaint goes to the office concerned.

What a complaint needs

  1. Your name, CNIC number and contact details. Most official channels do not act on anonymous complaints.
  2. The office and, where relevant, the post involved.
  3. What happened, when and where, in plain, dated steps.
  4. The documents you hold lawfully, listed and numbered.
  5. Any earlier complaint and the reply you received.

Stick to facts you can support. Separate what you saw from what you believe.

What happens after you report

Expect an acknowledgement or reference number; if you do not get one, follow up in writing. Investigating bodies move through stages. At NAB, complaint verification may lead to an inquiry, then an investigation, and only then to a reference, the formal charge filed in an accountability court. Each stage can take months, and many complaints are closed without action. A closed complaint is not proof that nothing happened, and an open inquiry is not proof of guilt. Keep a dated record of every contact. If a body does not respond within its stated timeline, you can write to its head or, for maladministration, to the relevant ombudsman.

The Public Interest Disclosures Act, 2017

Pakistan's federal whistleblower law, the Public Interest Disclosures Act, 2017, lets a person make a disclosure to a competent authority about wilful misuse of power or discretion causing loss to government or wrongful gain, or about corruption offences under the NAB law. It has clear limits:

An amendment bill introduced in the National Assembly in 2025 proposed an independent inquiry commission. Check whether any change has been enacted before relying on it. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also has a Whistleblower Protection and Vigilance Commission Act, 2016; check whether its commission is functioning. For a regional comparison, see whistleblower laws in South Asia.

Retaliation risks

Reporting can lead to transfers, disciplinary action, loss of work, legal threats or worse. Protection on paper does not always work in practice, and the people you report may learn your identity from the complaint itself. Defamation claims are a real risk if you make allegations you cannot support.

Safer practices

Do

  • Use a personal device and personal network, never work ones.
  • Keep copies of what you file and every reference number.
  • Write down events with dates as they happen.
  • Report facts and documents, not conclusions.
  • Read the source safety guide before you act.
  • Get legal advice if you are an employee or facing threats.

Don't

  • Take records you are not lawfully entitled to hold.
  • Access systems or accounts without permission.
  • Discuss your report with colleagues or on social media.
  • Exaggerate or guess; it weakens your case and your protection.
  • Share files without removing metadata.

When sharing with journalists may be appropriate

Going to a journalist may be reasonable if official channels have failed, if the body you would report to is itself involved, or if there is a serious public interest that is not being addressed. Remember that the 2017 Act does not protect disclosures to the media. A responsible newsroom will verify what you share, protect your identity and seek a response from those named. FaujiLeaks follows published standards. If you decide to contact us, use the secure tip form from a personal device on a personal network.

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Frequently asked questions

How do I file a complaint with NAB?

Use NAB's online complaint system, a regional office, its helpline or a written complaint. Include evidence; NAB checks each complaint for jurisdiction and substance before any inquiry.

Can I report corruption anonymously in Pakistan?

Most official channels, including NAB and the Wafaqi Mohtasib, discourage or do not act on anonymous complaints. If anonymity matters, read a source safety guide and consider your options before filing.

What is the difference between NAB and the FIA anti-corruption wing?

NAB works under the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999, and its jurisdiction has been narrowed since 2022. The FIA's Anti-Corruption Wing deals with corruption by federal government officials and misuse of federal funds.

Does Pakistan have a whistleblower protection law?

Yes. The Public Interest Disclosures Act, 2017 covers disclosures to a competent authority, but it excludes security and foreign-relations matters and does not protect disclosures to the media.

Is it free to complain to the Wafaqi Mohtasib?

Yes. No fee is charged and you do not need a lawyer. Complaints should generally be filed within three months and are meant to be resolved within 60 days.

Sources