Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry said on Sunday that NAB’s proactive anti-corruption strategy was yielding positive results in nabbing the corrupt.

Addressing an official meeting, the chairman said that NAB had signed a memorandum of understanding with China to oversee and ensure transparency in CPEC Projects. “NAB has geared up to perform its national duty by adopting Zero Tolerance Policy across the board to eradicate corruption from the country. During the tenure of the present management, NAB has filed more than 100 corruption references against corrupt persons in respective accountability courts and recovered Rs 45 billion in three years. This is a remarkable achievement of NAB,” he said.

He said that NAB was the national apex anti-corruption agency which had been assigned to eradicate corruption from the country. “During the tenure of present management, NAB’s regional offices increased from five to eight in order to address peoples complaints related to corruption. In order to overcome shortage of staff, NAB has recruited 104 officers on merit and not a single appointment is challenged by any candidate at any legal forum. This shows merit and transparency has been ensured by the present management of NAB. Moreover, NAB has promoted 137 officers on merit and seniority during the tenure of present management. NAB has established an internal accountability system within NAB to weed out inefficient officers. NAB initiated action against 83 officers. Out of 83 officers, 34 officers were given minor penalties, while 23 officers were dismissed from service on the basis of misconduct etc,” he said.

“NAB is the only agency which has fixed timeline for disposal of cases specially white collar crimes cases in 10 months besides introducing the concept of combine investigation team (CIT) in order to have sold base of inquiry/investigation of the case on the basis of collective wisdom. These measures taken by the present management of NAB proved very successful in enhancing the performance of NAB Officers/officials. Due to continued efforts of NAB, the independent national and international organisations such as PILDAT, Transparency International, World Economic Forum and Mishal Pakistan appreciated NAB’s performance which is great achievement of Pakistan due to NAB efforts,” he said.

He said that Pakistan had become first chairman of SAARC Anti-Corruption Forum for collaborative efforts for eradication of corruption on the basis of best practices. “NAB is a role model for SAARC countries as NAB was selected first chairman of SAARC Anti Corruption Forum. NAB has signed an MOU with China in order to eradicate corruption. Under this MOU, Pakistan and China will oversee and ensure transparency in CPEC projects,” he said.

He said that NAB had constituted prevention committees in federal government departments in order to identify ways and means to plug loopholes and measures for improvement in regulatory mechanism.

“These measures are to suggest ways to federal and provincial governments for improving transparency, meritocracy, fair play and compliance of relevant laws. NAB’s Prevention Committees contributed very well and remained successful in plugging loopholes and irregularities in different department due to their meaningful interaction and recommendations,” he said.

Published in Daily Times, June 26th, 2017.