Fighting graft: ‘Corruption impedes development’

NAB chief Qamar Zaman Chaudhry says the corrupt deprive public of essential services

LAHORE:

There is a general consensus that corruption is a bane for economic growth and social development, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry said at a ceremony organised by the Lahore chapter of the English Speaking Union.

“Hard-earned public money is drained out of the system by the corrupt thereby depriving the general public of essential services and good quality of life,” the head of the premier anti-graft body said.

Elaborating, Chaudhry said, “it is the responsibility of the state and the government to ensure basic fundamental rights to its citizens”.

“Food for the hungry, shelter for the homeless, health care for the sick, education for all the children, employment for the youth and development of a socio economic infrastructure, are only some of the measures that are incumbent upon a responsible government. Ensuring these fundamental rights and provision of these facilities cost money, time and efforts. Wastage or pilferage of these precious commodities is termed as corruption, he explained.

Unfortunately, weak enforcement of laws, as well as lack of equity and accountability, has resulted in corruption becoming a way of life, he said. “There is little, if any, sense of aversion or abhorrence towards the corrupt.”

The NAB chief said that unchecked corruption has resulted in corrupt flaunting their ill-gotten wealth with impunity and also trying, somewhat successfully, to silence those who undertake to enforce the rule of law.

He shared details of NAB’s actions against the corrupt elements and the achievements of the bureau since its inception.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 20^th, 2015.