Awareness, prevention campaign: NAB plans more character building societies

Bureau’s chairman says their drive has been effective

Following an effective awareness and prevention campaign last year, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was aiming to further increase the number of character building societies on campuses this year.

NAB and the Higher Education Commission (HEC) had signed an agreement for creating awareness amongst students of various universities and colleges about the corruption. As a result of the collaboration, over 42,000 character building societies were established in various universities and colleges across the country.

Given the success of the programme, NAB intended to increase the number CBS to 50,000 by the end of this year.

This was discussed during a meeting to review the latest progress of NAB’s awareness and prevention campaign ‘say no to corruption’ at NAB headquarters.

NAB Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, while chairing the meeting, said that the bureau had been spearheading an anti-corruption campaign which has had a powerful impact while conveying the message of “Say No to Corruption” in a very vocal and aggressive manner.

In this regard, he said that Nab had been using ATM machines of all scheduled banks across the country conveying NAB’s message to users.

Moreover, the bureau organised seminars and walks which were participated by the President of Pakistan along with people from all walks of life.

NAB also joined hands with utilities such as SNGPL, IESCO, LESCO, GEPCO, FESCO and K-Electric to print the accountability bureau’s message about corruption.

IESCO and other organisations have also started printing NAB message “Say No to Corruption” on electricity bills and gas bills.

Similarly, the Islamabad Traffic Police started printing NAB’s message on 2.4 million driving licences.

PTA conveyed the bureau’s message through telecom companies via SMS while the film world cooperated by airing the message in cinemas in the country.

Chaudhry said that in light of the positive feedback received about NAB’s proactive awareness and prevention campaign, NAB had decided to continue its nationwide awareness and prevention campaign in 2017 in order to make people more aware people about the ill effects of corruption.

The NAB chief added that Pakistan was a role model for SAARC Countries in eradicating corruption.

He added that Pakistan also had the honour of being selected as the first chairman of SAARC Anti-Corruption Forum.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 18^th, 2017.