NAB recovers an astounding Rs29.93b

Last year bureau had recorded recovery at Rs1.99b in its performance report

LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Lahore on Friday claimed to have recovered a record amount of Rs29.93 billion as per its 2019 performance report. The amount is nearly 15 times more than that retrieved in 2018.

Last year the bureau had recorded recovery at Rs1.99 billion in its annual performance report. Spokesperson NAB said the amount is unprecedented compared to the yearly recoveries accounted in the last 19 years.

The 2019 performance report issued by NAB Lahore documented the arrest of 138 persons accused of involvement in corruption and causing loss to the national exchequer in 2019.

The regional office of the anti-graft body launched 100 new inquiries this year, while 36 new investigations were also initiated.  Moreover, a total of 55 references were filed in the accountability courts during the same period.

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The accountability bureau also completed probe into 25 corruption cases and filed references in the accountability courts. In 2019, at least 30 references of plea bargain were filed. Consequently, nearly Rs3 billion were returned in cash along with houses and plots worth Rs27 billion to the victims. The number of complaints to the NAB Lahore, rose up to over 13,000 in the current year compared to the yesteryears annual average of 4,000 complaints.

NAB Lahore Director General Shahzad Saleem said NAB was strictly adhering to the policy of ‘Accountability for all’.

“Eliminating corruption from the country and establishing a corruption free environment is the top priority of NAB,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 28^th, 2019.