Menace: ‘NAB committed to rooting out corruption’

Chairman urges investigation officers to be fair in their conduct and deliver efficiently

ISLAMABAD: National Accountability Chairman (NAB) Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry has said that the anti-graft body was committed to eradicating corruption by adopting ‘zero tolerance policy’ against malpractices.

He said this while addressing the graduation ceremony of NAB investigation officers who got training at the Police Training College Sihala, said a press release issued here on Friday.

“It is a cherished moment for the passing out officers as their gracing the occasion will remain etched in their memories for a long time as these officers come from all parts of the country,” he said adding that their selection and participation in the training course was a true reflection of the federal character of the country.

He said that physical training, academic and extra-curricular activities and above all sound character-building sessions were part of the course. “I must say that the trainee officers have accomplished all these aspects with flying colours and they can be proud of their achievements,” he said.

Chaudhry said that corruption was rampant in our society, in the body politic and our-day-to-day life.

“Corruption has rightly been labelled as mother of all ills. It gives birth to multifarious problems including nepotism and favoritism. It negates meritocracy, transparency and accountability. Banking scams, industrialists’ monopoly to create even bigger profit margins are some of manifestations of corruption that is exhibited quite regularly by those who have acquired ill-gotten wealth,” he said.

He said that an exhaustive system of cognizance of cases has been formulated to standardise the selection of cases for processing. Priority is given to a case keeping in view its nature, the amount involved and its social impact.

He said that an effective accountability mechanism was quintessential for economic growth, investment and stability of social order.

Since its inception, NAB had adopted the enforcement-based approach in its fight against corruption.  “But I must say that corruption is too complex a phenomenon to be controlled with the enforcement a strategy alone. Controlling corruption on a sustainable and long term basis requires a broader vision and multi faceted strategy including awareness and prevention drives.”

He said that youth was the future of Pakistan and the NAB has laid special emphases on this segment of the population. Character building societies (CBS) are being set up in educational institutions to build an effective edifice against corruption.

He said that it was a positive sign that this batch has shown interest in academic grooming along with physical training and professional learning.

“It requires your analytical decision powers to deliver the benefit to the state. It asks for patience and above all when you work in NAB particularly, it calls for impartial, transparent and equitable behaviour. This is why seven months have been spent on your training so that you should be able to handle your duties with the best professional skills and transparently,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2016.