Performance review: NAB back on the rails: Qamar Zaman
Qamar Zaman Chaudhry says pendency of cases almost over
The NAB chairman has directed that no case should be marked as open ended. PHOTO: EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry on Monday appreciated the NAB staff for efficient disposal of cases pending for years.
He was chairing the annual Director Generals (DGs) Conference at NAB headquarters.
Chaudhry said due to various reasons, NAB’s working was adversely affected during the previous years. He, however, said that the year 2014 was the year of reinvigoration of NAB. “The present management initiated the process of putting NAB back on rails. After a thorough and comprehensive analysis of defects and deficiencies in the structure and operations of the organization, a reform and restructuring programme was put in place which has not only entrusted a new lease of life to the organization but also infused it with a new character; a character marked by fairness, objectivity, professionalism and transparency,” he said.
He said that the measures taken by the present management such as introduction of combined investigation teams (CIT), review of standard operating procedures (SOPs) — making them relevant to current times, clearly defined Job Descriptions, rational timelines for completing investigations, capacity building tailored around specific job requirements and rationalisation of workload has started showing results. “An objective appraisal system — Partly Quantified Grading System — and the Internal Accountability Mechanism (IAM) has improved quality of the output considerably with fewer instances of highhandedness and unprofessional conduct.”
The chairman said that the tempo and momentum generated in 2014 has been sustained into 2015 as well. The stock-taking of pending cases resulted in identification of 1,133 in the pending list spread over 12 years. The field formations were encouraged to set deadline for these cases.
Chaudhry appreciated the field formation for achieving over 92 per cent disposal of these cases. “It was made possible through the dedicated and tireless efforts of the entire workforce at all levels for which they deserve unqualified appreciation,” he added.
He said that the efforts and hard work of two years have now prepared the NAB to make bigger strides towards its ultimate objectives of becoming an efficient and dependable anti-corruption agency. “With continuous development of existing workforce through trainings and an enabling, consultative work environment and the induction of 110 investigation officers, currently under training at Sihala, NAB is now more than adequately equipped to perform its functions. This is the new NAB,” he said.
NAB headquarters director general gave a detailed briefing on the newly established monitoring and evaluation system (MES) having salient features of maintenance of data at each stage including complaint entry, complaint verification, inquiry, investigation, prosecution stage and record preservation.
The conference deliberated over all SOPs in detail.
The meeting also approved internal accountability mechanism of NAB which has been devised with a view to weed out such elements that bring a bad name to the organisation. It also approved Partly Quantified Grading System (PQGS).
The conference approved extension of all pending cases of DOC. They will now be completed till December 31, 2015. The chairman directed that no case should be marked as open ended.
He said the bureau was now well set to perform to its capacity as most of the pendency of cases was almost over. Some of the SOPs have been revised and approved. He said awareness and media campaign on “Say No to Corruption” was very effective.
The conference will conclude on Wednesday.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 27th, 2015.
National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry on Monday appreciated the NAB staff for efficient disposal of cases pending for years.
He was chairing the annual Director Generals (DGs) Conference at NAB headquarters.
Chaudhry said due to various reasons, NAB’s working was adversely affected during the previous years. He, however, said that the year 2014 was the year of reinvigoration of NAB. “The present management initiated the process of putting NAB back on rails. After a thorough and comprehensive analysis of defects and deficiencies in the structure and operations of the organization, a reform and restructuring programme was put in place which has not only entrusted a new lease of life to the organization but also infused it with a new character; a character marked by fairness, objectivity, professionalism and transparency,” he said.
He said that the measures taken by the present management such as introduction of combined investigation teams (CIT), review of standard operating procedures (SOPs) — making them relevant to current times, clearly defined Job Descriptions, rational timelines for completing investigations, capacity building tailored around specific job requirements and rationalisation of workload has started showing results. “An objective appraisal system — Partly Quantified Grading System — and the Internal Accountability Mechanism (IAM) has improved quality of the output considerably with fewer instances of highhandedness and unprofessional conduct.”
The chairman said that the tempo and momentum generated in 2014 has been sustained into 2015 as well. The stock-taking of pending cases resulted in identification of 1,133 in the pending list spread over 12 years. The field formations were encouraged to set deadline for these cases.
Chaudhry appreciated the field formation for achieving over 92 per cent disposal of these cases. “It was made possible through the dedicated and tireless efforts of the entire workforce at all levels for which they deserve unqualified appreciation,” he added.
He said that the efforts and hard work of two years have now prepared the NAB to make bigger strides towards its ultimate objectives of becoming an efficient and dependable anti-corruption agency. “With continuous development of existing workforce through trainings and an enabling, consultative work environment and the induction of 110 investigation officers, currently under training at Sihala, NAB is now more than adequately equipped to perform its functions. This is the new NAB,” he said.
NAB headquarters director general gave a detailed briefing on the newly established monitoring and evaluation system (MES) having salient features of maintenance of data at each stage including complaint entry, complaint verification, inquiry, investigation, prosecution stage and record preservation.
The conference deliberated over all SOPs in detail.
The meeting also approved internal accountability mechanism of NAB which has been devised with a view to weed out such elements that bring a bad name to the organisation. It also approved Partly Quantified Grading System (PQGS).
The conference approved extension of all pending cases of DOC. They will now be completed till December 31, 2015. The chairman directed that no case should be marked as open ended.
He said the bureau was now well set to perform to its capacity as most of the pendency of cases was almost over. Some of the SOPs have been revised and approved. He said awareness and media campaign on “Say No to Corruption” was very effective.
The conference will conclude on Wednesday.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 27th, 2015.