NAB, UK crime agency likely to ink agreement

Agency to fund training course for anti-corruption body

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the National Crime Agency (NCA) of UK are mulling plans to sign an agreement which would enhance their cooperation in anti-corruption work and sharing of training facilities.

This was decided during a meeting between the anti-corruption watchdog’s chief Qamar Zaman Chaudhry and the country manager of NCA-UK Osman Ahmed at the NAB Headquarters, a statement released by the bureau on Wednesday read.

During the meeting, Chaudhry described their partnership with NCA-UK as one of ‘high value’, adding that since anti-corruption work transcends national boundaries, close cooperation between the two agencies would help curb corruption.

He appreciated that NCA for organising two study visits to the UK for six NAB officers in 2016 and 2017 which had proved productive in improving the investigation skills and techniques of the officers apart from broadening their vision and international exposure.

To further improve the capacity building of NAB’s investigation officers, NCA-UK had carried out Training Need Analysis (TNA) for the bureau in consultation with the concerned division of the anti-corruption watchdog.

The contents of the course are expected to be finalised soon. As many as five courses will be held in Pakistan in six fields identified by experts.

NCA’s Ahmed assured that the contents and training modules for the six capacity building courses would be provided soon. The course aims to enhance the abilities of NAB’s officers to inquire and investigate corruption cases such as white collar crimes.

He further added that all courses offered would be fully funded by NCA-UK. He thanked NAB for its help in sharing its experience in the field of anti-corruption and other areas of common concern.

It was further decided in the meeting that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation in anti-corruption work and sharing of training facilities would be put up for approval by the relevant authorities at both ends.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 1^st, 2017.