NAB has zero tolerance for corruption: chairman

Bureau’s chief stresses objectivity, professionalism and integrity in fight against corruption

ISLAMABAD: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry has said that the NAB strongly believed in zero tolerance policy against corruption.

He was addressing the second day of the annual NAB director generals’ conference at the NAB headquarters on Tuesday. The meeting was attended by NAB deputy chairman, PGA and all the director generals (DG).



NAB DG awareness and prevention gave a presentation on various awareness and prevention activities and informed that on the directions of NAB chairman, the bureau has started extensive awareness and prevention campaign to spread the message about the ill effects of corruption.

He said NAB is mandated to carry out awareness and prevention functions against corruption in pursuance of section 33C of National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) 1999. Under its proactive approach, NAB has been engaging different government and non-government organizations and civil society in the fight against corruption, he said.

In this context, some of the steps taken by NAB include:  all ATM machines of all scheduled banks carry NAB’s message “Say No to Corruption” across the country; NAB organised a national seminar on World Anti-Corruption Day at Aiwan-e-Sadr, which was chaired by President Mamnoon Hussain; and NAB organised a walk at Aiwan-Sadr which was led by the President of Pakistan.



NAB and the Higher Education Commission (HEC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for creating awareness among students of various universities. Under the MoU, 4,030 character building societies have been established in various universities across the country.

The bureau NAB has also collaborated with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Pakistan cricket team joined the NAB’s anti-corruption campaign titled “Say No to Corruption” before leaving for the ICC World Cup 2015. National hockey team has also promoted the message. Furthermore, Pakistan Television has aired the song “Say No to Corruption”. Apart from this, the message is also being printed on the utility bills of IESCO, LESCO, GEPCO, FESCO and SNGPL.

Pakistan Post has also issued a commemorative stamp with the slogan “Say No to Corruption” to mark the World Anti-Corruption Day. The anti-corruption message is also being printed on all driving licenses being issued by the Islamabad Traffic Police.



The message has also been displayed at various hotels, shopping malls in Islamabad as well as the Islamabad airport.

The chairman said NAB’s anti-corruption campaign has contributed in spreading the message. He hoped that joint efforts of all stakeholders would help check corruption and corrupt practices.

NAB DG training and research briefed the meeting about  training being provided to the newly-recruited investigation officers (IOs) at Police Training College Sihala. He also informed that NAB has established its own forensic science lab (FSL) in NAB Rawalpindi/Islamabad. The lab has facilities of digital forensics and fingerprint analysis.



The chairman NAB said the lab has been established and made operational with an aim to equip the body with latest technology to cater to emerging needs to eliminate menace of corruption from the society.

The chairman said that NAB was determined to perform its national duty with absolute objectivity, professionalism, unimpeachable integrity and without any leanings for or against anybody.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 28^th, 2015.