Eliminating corruption: Sindh governor lauds NAB’s efforts

Recovered amount of Rs270 million distributed among scam victims.

KARACHI: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan has lauded the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) role in fighting corruption and recovering large sums of looted cash.

Speaking at a cheque distribution ceremony, recently held at Governor House Karachi, Ishratul Ebad extended full cooperation to efforts to rid all departments and organisations of the Sindh government of corruption.

He said corruption not only affects the national exchequer but also deprives the masses of due benefits of development projects.

The Director General NAB, Karachi, Col (Retd) Sirajun Naeem presented cheques worth Rs270 million for distribution among various departments of Sindh government and individual victims.

Ebad said that NAB Sindh has performed exceptionally during last two years under the guidance of Sirajun Naeem. He particularly lauded distribution of lease documents amongst 68 allotees of Rado Builders who were waiting for more than 20 years for the same. Only NAB could make the builder cough up the looted sum and hand over possession of flats and shops to rightful owners.

According to a statement issued by NAB, the amount of Rs270 million was recovered through voluntary return and plea bargain in prominent cases, including NBP, OGDCL, Wapda, Saudi Pak Industrial and Agricultural Investment Company Ltd, Pakistan Post Office, Local Government Works and Services Irrigation Food and Health Department of Sindh Government and a builder.

Ebad handed over the lease, title and possession documents and Rs160 million coughed by Rado Builder among the 68 beaming owners.

Moreover, out of Rs270 million a cheque of Rs213 million was handed over to representative of Sindh Government. The sum was recovered through plea bargain and voluntary return. An amount of Rs5 million was handed over to Saudi Pak Industrial and Agricultural Investment Company Ltd. NAB had recovered the sum from AH International (Pvt) Ltd.

A cheque of Rs2.1 million was handed over to a representative of the State Life Insurance Corporation in a case against Schon Group, while a cheque of Rs1.3 million was handed over to the NBP in a pension scam case that originated in NBP Hyderabad branch.

Similarly, a sum of Rs262,894 was handed over to a representative of Wapda and Rs176,520 to OGDCL.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 6^th, 2016.