Pakistan, China to enhance anti-corruption ties

NAB chief says agreement key to building conducive trade environment

An anti-corruption agreement, signed between the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and China last year was key to developing a fair, impartial and corruption-free environment for economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

This was stated by NAB chief Qamar Zaman Chaudhry in a meeting with a Chinese delegation led by Communist Party of China Secretary General Hou Changan of Hubei Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection of China, a statement read on Wednesday.

In the meeting at NAB Headquarters Islamabad, Chaudhry remarked that Pakistan and China are time tested friends.



He added that a number of strategic and economic measures were being undertaken between China and Pakistan. In this regard, the NAB chief said, they had also focused on curbing corruption in the under process and mega development projects between the two countries such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

In this regard, Chaudhry recalled that last year Pakistan and China had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation on eliminating corruption.

He noted that the agreement was especially significant in the backdrop of increasing economic and trade cooperation between the two countries with a resolve by both governments to work in a fair, impartial and corruption-free environment. He added that it was important to share their experiences to eradicate corruption.

Chaudhry said that cooperation between the two friendly countries in anti-corruption would be further enhanced.



Changan appreciated the briefing on operational, awareness, prevention, prosecution and enforcement work of the bureau.

Speaking about the strategic partnership between the two countries, he said that there was a need for future cooperation in the field of anti-corruption.

In this respect, both the authorities noted that the MoU was a huge step forward and a new dimension in relations between the two countries.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 23^rd, 2017.