IN my work life, I had little chance of coming across cases of under-the-table deals, although there were others around who would tell me stories I found difficult to believe. I know better now.

Nowhere can I go and get any sort of work done that involves government servants, for I would face demands for extra payment. For a small cybercrime that I reported to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), I had to pay Rs15,000. The Ministry of Housing and Works seemed to have lost the file for my house that I had purchased in 2002. To make a duplicate file that involved filing photocopies of a few documents taken from my personal record, I was asked to dish out Rs100,000.

At the Sindh Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Department, I wanted to have a new number plate for my car, having lost one in an accident, the going rate in addition to the official charges was Rs25,000.

Our religious teachings say that even ‘giving a bribe’ is as big a crime as ‘taking a bribe’. By no error of mine, I have made myself eligible for hell, like many others, simply because I must bribe if I am to get any legal work done in this country.

Name withheld on request
Karachi

Published in Dawn, December 8th, 2024