Work ethics: ‘Corruption eating social fabric of nation’

NAB DG emphasises role of women and youth in curbing the problem.

ISLAMABAD: Corruption is one of the major challenges Pakistan is facing in government departments. It must be controlled with determination and resolve at national level, from grassroots to top. This was said by National Accountability Bureau Director General (DG) Awareness and Prevention Aliya Rashid on Thursday.

She was speaking at a lecture ‘Developing and Promoting Corruption Free Culture and Work Ethics in Government Organisations’ arranged by Directorate General Civil Defence for its newly inducted officers.

Rashid analysed main causes of the problem and said it was eating social fabric of the nation. The country would make much faster progress in all fields, if the nation was able to overcome the menace of corruption, she observed.

The DG emphasised role of women and youth in curbing corruption. She said social pressures for better lives emanating from families lead to financial corruption. If women are educated on the subject, it would obviously have a positive impact in curbing the growing trend of corruption in our country, Rashid said. She urged women to make their husbands proud of what they were and to appreciate their efforts for the family. She said that when wives and children demand luxury items, it is like telling a husband or father on wheel chair to run a marathon. This innocent and un-intentional act by children is often due to lack of awareness about negative impact of such demands, the DG said. It can lead people to a situation where they choose wrong ways and means to make their family happy, she said.

Rashid added that Pakistan was leading country to adopt ‘Say No to Corruption’ logo and use it on utility bills, driving licenses, identity cards, ATMs, routine government correspondence and public sector print advertisements. It was first country to introduce a postal stamp bearing this logo and the message is also displayed at all cinema halls, she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 8^th,  2016.