Outlines measures adopted to battle corruption. PHOTO: INP/FILE
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is hoping for a collaboration with all stakeholders for joint efforts to check corruption and corrupt practices in the country.
This was expressed by NAB Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, according to a statement issued by the bureau on Sunday.
Chaudhry noted that NAB’s tentacles spanned the length and breadth of the country and that the bureau was constantly endeavouring to raise awareness, prevention and enforcement.
Moreover, NAB has chalked out a comprehensive and proactive National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) to raise awareness, enhance prevention and for effective enforcement.
The anti-corruption watchdog has also managed to recover Rs 45 billion to date from corrupt elements and had deposited in the national exchequer.
Further, NAB has filed 12 references in the Rs22 billion Modarba Scam and recovered Rs1.73 billion apart from properties and vehicles. So far 34 people have been arrested in the scam including prominent names.
However, the bureau’s primary focus is on cases of cheating the public at large through fraudulent financial companies, bank frauds, willful bank loan defaults, misuse of authority and embezzlement of state funds by government servants.
Equipped with a forensic science lab (FSL) at its Rawalpindi bureau, the authority can carry out digital forensics, check dubious documents and conduct fingerprint analysis.
Moreover, NAB has rationalised its workload and timelines have been prescribed for efficient, effective and expeditious disposal of cases within a maximum of 10 months.
As per the latest report of Transparency International (TI) of 2016, Pakistan’s ranking in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) has improved by over nine points, adding that Pakistan is considered to be a role model among South Asian countries for its efforts against corruption.
In collaboration with Higher Education Commission (HEC), NAB established over 45,000 Character Building Societies (CBSs) in universities, colleges and schools across the country to raise awareness against corruption.
For 2017, NAB has targeted to raise the number of CBS to reach at least 50,000.
NAB also hosted the first SAARC Seminar in Islamabad where the heads of SAARC anti-corruption authorities agreed to the create a region-wide anti-corruption forum. Pakistan was elected to head the body as its inaugural chairman.
On bilateral the front, NAB has signed a MoU with China to streamline and structure cooperation in the fields of anti-corruption. In the context of CPEC, this cooperation will further boost confidence in projects undertaken in Pakistan. Another MoU is proposed to be signed with Malaysia, details for which are being worked out.
NAB hopes that joint efforts of all stakeholders can collaborate to check corruption and corrupt practices before happening with the help of all stakeholders, civil society, media and people
at large.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 17th, 2017.
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