NAB devises strategy to weed out corruption from society

NAB’s efforts have led to the country dropping from 175 to 126 in global Corruption Perception Index

National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has chalked out a comprehensive strategy for the eradication of corruption from society which is an insidious plague that has a wide range of corrosive effects on societies, said a press release issued here on Sunday.

It undermines development and rule of law perpetuates inefficiencies in the system. It not only causes delays in the early completion of development projects but also causes huge losses to national exchequer. It also increases inflation in the country decreasing the buying power of common man.



NAB’s efforts have led to the country’s dropping from 175 to 126 in Transparency International’s global Corruption Perception Index, the statement said.

Last year’s Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) report stated that over 42 per cent of the public trusted NAB compared to other government departments.

The bureau has so far recovered Rs263 billion from different individuals and organisations since its inception in 1999 and deposited in national kitty.

Over 4,019 character building societies have been established by NAB at education institutions to create awareness among the youth about corruption.

NAB has also filed six references in the Rs22 billion Modaraba scam, recovered Rs1.7 billion, and arrested 32 accused persons. NAB has also filed seven references in the rental power project case in the accountability courts.

The NAB chairman, Qamar Zaman Chaudhry has directed for establishment of standard operating procedures and a 10-month maximum limit from complaint verification, to inquiry, to investigation, to a reference in the accountability court.

NAB has also categorised corruption cases into ‘normal cases’ ranging from Rs100 million to Rs200 million, ‘complex cases’ worth Rs500 million to Rs1 billion and ‘mega cases’ worth Rs1 billion and above.

The bureau has developed monitoring and evaluation systems catering to the needs of all including the maintenance of data such as complaint entry, verification, inquiry, investigation, prosecution and record preservation for regional and executive board meetings.

Moreover, a special integrity management cell has been set up at the bureau’s headquarters in Islamabad and an internal accountability mechanism to ensure effective monitoring and evaluation of all levels of the bureau.

The bureau has set up its first forensic science lab in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

It is proposing the establishment of an ‘anti-corruption network’ of SAARC countries for collaborative efforts for eradication of corruption on the basis of best practices.

The bureau has proposed to the law ministry to set up a ‘whistle blower protection act’, as outlined by the United Nations Convention against Corruption.

The chairman has also directed NAB to start an awareness, prevention and enforcement campaign.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 14^th,  2015.