Whistleblowing in Pakistan
Whistleblowing is currently one of the hottest topics in the world of governance. Generally speaking, organisations consider the following to be advantages of a credible whistleblower program:
- Discover misconduct in a timely manner and take appropriate action
- Take care of things internally before it becomes a PR issue
- Reduce losses which are caused due to misconduct
- Build trust in your brand
- Ensure legal compliance (on hold currently in Pakistan)
- A tool which acts as a deterrent to misconduct at all levels
This post is a condensed write-up of what became an informal case study around whistleblowing, anonymity in Pakistan. Specially relevant as the whistleblowing ordinance was passed a few days ago.
Our software offers true anonymity whilst allowing 2-way communication and world class security for whistleblowers. We thought this would revolutionise the corporate governance landscape.
We started by looking for email addresses for web sites in Pakistan that allow whistleblowers to complain/blow the whistle. We tried various options and strict and loose searches –there are approximately 22,000 organisations registered with the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and approximately 559 listed companies on the Pakistan Stock Exchange. Much to our dismay we found a total of 28 email addresses! From ALL of Pakistan.
We made and sent a great explanatory email (mentioning 2-way anonymity, use via Tor browser, availability in multiple languages, encrypted files and so on). We got our first bounced (returned) email within 10 minutes, and another 3 by the end of the day! From the grand total of 28 email addresses made specifically for whistleblowing from all over the country – 4 do not exist and only 24 were delivered.
Out of the 24 delivered email, only three companies actually opened our email. And then NOTHING!
Its been more than a week today (Nov. 1, 2019), and only three companies out of the 24 have actually opened the email and hopefully read its content. Of these 3, none of them has shown interest (maybe their system is actually working). And the other 21? Haven’t even bothered to check the mail – not even one of the most promoted “speakup” email in Karachi!
Quick summary:
- Email addresses found: 28
- Emails bounced: 4
- Emails opened: 3
In addition, during our search we came across a mixed approach to addressing the situation, some companies had embedded forms on their web site, some of them actually required the person to provide their name and CNIC details.
Seems like everything else in Pakistan, there’s no urgency to improve governance also. Feel free to get in touch if you find anything confusing – or if you would like to take a look at our system. Click here for full details. Do you agree? Is this close to your experience? Let me know in the comments section.
Outstanding Leadership Award Winner | Director | Internationally Recognised Trainer & Educator | Training and Development Consultant | Assessor | Lead IQA | EQA | Agile PM | Quality Assurance
5 年Brilliant initiative. I work in training and consultancy sector in the UK and whistleblowing, safeguarding in any context needs to be a priority.
Unit Head - Control Reviews - Global Compliance & Conduct
5 年Good work. Invariably, it should be derived from the top management and it all depends tone at the top. In fact, it directly relates to Ethics & Conduct. Besides, a healthy working relationship should be established among business lines, HR, Internal Audit and Compliance to address the issue.?
@Rivian | Ex-Citi | Ex-Synchrony | Ex-Loblaw Technology Audit|Technology Risk Management
5 年Waqar Rizvi, FCA Tahir Sharif
Numberless telephony empowering in-app and website calling.
5 年I received a comment, thought it was great - posting it below: "thank you for sharing your experiences.. As head of internal Audit.. with an opportunity to access and review records/ data on whistle blowing... I observed that whistle blowers approached or triggered the bell once supervisor (had or) was about to take an administrative action ..I also interviewed and met a few. Most of whistleblowers (I met)were either part of problem themselves or had unconfirmed facts or were not aware of what is meant by whistleblowing .. I will give you an example ( our policy restricts appointment and posting of husband and wife in same department or as direct supervisor or subordinate ). Mr X notified that Mr A is in love with Ms B!! and they may marry soon. There is another intresting example where an accountant after his termination from service (on account of embezzlement ) identified some cases where in partnership with another employee, few payments were jointly pocketed by them.. So those complaints were not part of whistleblowing acts but actually an attempt to get close the contract of his partner in crime friend who was still in job!!. My suggestion is.. come up with training plan for companies on whistle blowing ... What constitutes whistleblowing and what does not."