President calls corruption major roadblock in prosperity

Urges all segments of society to play their role in curbing this menace

ISLAMABAD: President Arif Alvi has said corruption in Pakistan hurts the economy as well as business as corrupted economies remain unable to function properly because it prevents free functioning of natural laws of the economy.

"Although it has widespread implications on our lives, economy bears the main brunt and in turn sabotages prosperity of the nation," the president said in a message on the International Anti-Corruption Day being commemorated today (December 9) since the ratification of the United Nations Convention against Corruption on October 31, 2003 to raise public awareness against financial crimes.

The president noted corruption in a nation's political and economic operations could cause its entire society to suffer.

"Each year billions of rupees of public money are lost because of corruption in the form of embezzlements, bribes and misappropriation of funds which directly affect ability of the government to provide even proper basic services to the public and denies them their fundamental rights," he added.

The president noted the sheer scale of the challenge calls for combined efforts to confront this challenge head on. "The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government is committed to eradicate this cancer,” said Alvi adding that however the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) alone cannot win this fight.

He called upon and urged all segments of society to stand together in bringing about change in their behaviours and contribute towards efforts in putting an end to corruption to support economic growth in order to bring prosperity.



“Corruption has now become one of the world's greatest challenges,” lamented the president calling such practices a major hindrance against development and prosperity of a nation.

“This day serves as reminder not only for the people of Pakistan, but also for citizens of all the nations around the globe about the harmful effects of corruption,” he added stating that corruption is corrosive for the very fabric of society and economic prosperity

"No country is free from this menace; it poses threat to the very fabric of all societies," he added.

Speaking of the national anti-graft body’s role in curbing corruption, Alvi said NAB being the apex anti-corruption agency of Pakistan has been mandated to keep this menace in check as well as to create awareness among the public at large about corruption.

The publication of a special supplement on the day was a testament to highlight the efforts undertaken by the Bureau, the President said, adding it also underscored the importance of eradicating this curse from the homeland, which was one of the top priorities of the present government.