Right to information: Informed citizens help in government accountability: NAB chief

NAB has submitted Rs262 billion in the national exchequer since its inception


APP June 16, 2015
NAB chief Qamar Zaman at the seminar organised by Transparency International Pakistan. PHOTO: ONLINE

ISLAMABAD:


The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Monday said it will clear by June 30 75 per cent of cases pending since 2013. NAB chief Qamar Zaman Chaudhary said the move will help end backlog of cases whereas the remaining 25 per cent of cases have been forwarded for thorough investigation.


Talking to journalists at a seminar on `Right to Information and Whistle Blower Protection,’ he said NAB has submitted Rs262 billion in the national exchequer since its inception while its total expenditures remain Rs12.3 billion. The chairman said Rs7 billion were recovered from the Rental Power Projects scam while six cases filed on the matter are in courts.

Earlier, addressing the seminar which was organised by Transparency International Pakistan, he said the basic objective of right to information is to empower citizens. “An informed citizen is better equipped to keep a necessary vigil on instruments of governance and make the government more accountable,” he said.

Whistle blower protection is essential to encourage reporting of misconduct, fraud and corruption, he said, adding that the risk of corruption is significantly heightened in environments where reporting of wrongdoing is not supported or protected.


Published in The Express Tribune, June 16th, 2015. 

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