Curbing corruption: NAB will continue its awareness, prevention drive, says Chaudhry

Health ministry has been asked to get printed anti-corruption slogan on all cigarette packs

ISLAMABAD: The country’s top anti-graft czar has said that his organisation will continue awareness and prevention efforts against corruption in pursuance of Section 33C of National Accountability Ordinance (NAO).

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) will enhance its efforts against the menace of corruption and its ill-effects on society by engaging the different public, non-governmental organizations, civil society and media, NAB Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry said in a statement here Sunday.

The campaign is yielding positive results. He said as per the feedback received from various segments of society, the campaign on “Say no to corruption” had been effectively and positively highlighted in print and electronic media.

Recalling last year’s achievements, he said that due to NAB efforts now ATMs of all scheduled banks carry the anti-corruption message. It organized seminars to create awareness about the menace.

The bureau and Higher Education Commission have signed a memorandum of understanding for creating awareness among students of various universities and established 20,000 character building societies in various universities and colleges across the country.

The bureau entered into arrangements with sports organisations, gas and power utility companies to highlight NAB’s message through their platforms and printing on their bills its slogan to create awareness about the ill-effects of corruption.

Pakistan Post issued a commemorative stamp on the World No Corruption Day; Islamabad Traffic Police has started printing the message on all driving licences; PTA has asked all mobile phone service providers to disseminate the message to all subscribers; PIA is highlighting the message in all domestic and international flights; Pakistan Film Censor Board has directed all cinema houses to continuously air NAB’s video message after the national anthem.

The ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination has joined hands with NAB to print its message on all cigarette packs.

The bureau has proposed to the Motorway Police to distribute pamphlets carrying NAB message among the travelers on all motorways.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has been asked to display billboards carrying the message at the main tourist sites such as Daman-e-Koh, Shakarparian, Zero Point and hillock on the Expressway to Airport.

Islamabad Police has displayed the message at all the police stations.

The message is also being printed on all government tenders issued for publication in newspapers in Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Standees with NAB message have been displayed at the entrance points of Marriott, Serena, Benazir Bhutto Airport and major shopping malls to create awareness about the menace.

The chairman said that NAB is committed to eradicating corruption from the country by adopting zero tolerance policy. He said a recent report by Transparency International rated Pakistan in Corruption Perception Index (CPI) at 117 from 126 which is a great achievement for Pakistan.

Similarly, PILDAT report also says that 42% people trusted NAB against other related government departments. The increase in the number of complaints also reflects enhanced public trusted in the NAB.

He said that NAB has recovered about Rs276 billion since its inception and deposited in national exchequer which is also a great achievement.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 20^th, 2016.