In a press conference the serving President Hamid Karzai revealed his wealth on March 26, 2009.

Karzai revealed that his wealth is no more than 10,000 USD saved in his account in a German bank while his wife’s jewelry is worth 500,000 Afghanis (roughly 10,000 USD). The President claimed he possessed no more wealth than this. While registering/recording his personal wealth appealed to all higher officials of his government to register transparently to the accountability of the public.

Karzai further said his privileges from the government stands at only 24,000 Afghanis per month.

He said he was registering at the request of anti corruption bureau. He called the purpose of this (registration) ensuring accountability and transparency to the public.

However, political observers and analysts took this act of the president with a grain of salt calling it as President’s effort to stick to the presidency after the upcoming August Presidential elections in which Karzai is expected to be a candidate.

Getting rich while in power in recent years has become a phenomena and a symbol of deeply involved corruption in the country’s official set up. It had also brought bad name to the present system. International pressure however, subjected the present set up to establish an anti-corruption bureau in 2007.

Recently one of Karzai’s brothers was accused by the New York Times of misusing his relationship with the President. It was, however, turned down by Mahmood Karzai calling it an effort to defame Karzai’s political integrity.

Afghanistan and Afghanistan like countries of the third world countries have deeply rooted culture of corruption. By speaking loudly one cannot hide the fact which is as clear as the Sun and that speaks for itself. Afghanistan’s ranking in Transparency International is strong evidence that the country has moved fast towards the hell of corruption. If it continues so, it shall soon find itself engulfed in an irreversible damage. However, an optimistic view can be that with the exit of Karzai, a strong anti corruption force could evolve in the form of a new and strongly backed afghan government.