He said that NAB during the last 16 years has received about 326,694 complaints from individuals and private / public organisations. During this period NAB authorised 10992 complaint verification, 7303 inquiries, 3648 investigations, filed 2667 corruption references in respective accountability courts and overall conviction ratio is about 76 percent. NAB's prime focus is on cases of cheating public at large by fraudulent financial companies, bank frauds, wilful bank loan defaults, misuse of authority and embezzlement of state funds by Government servants etc.
Since NAB's inception, one of NAB's major achievements has been the recovery of around Rs 285/- billion of ill-gotten money which was deposited in the national exchequer which is a remarkable achievement of NAB. He said that the figures of complaints, inquiries and investigations are almost double as compared to the same period of 2015 to 2016. The comparative figures for the latest two years are indicative of the hard work being put in by all ranks of NAB staff in an atmosphere of renewed energy and dynamism, where fight against corruption is being taken as a national duty. Increase in the number of complaints also reflects enhanced public trusted in the NAB.
The PILDAT in its report supports the position stated above as 42% people trusted NAB against 30 % for police and 29 % for government officials. The recent report of Transparency International also rated Pakistan in Corruption Perception Index (CPI) from 126 to 117 which is a great achievement for Pakistan due to Chairman NAB's efforts.
The World Economic Forum and Mishal Pakistan according to Global Competitiveness Index of the World Economic Forum rated Pakistan from 126 to 122 this year which is great achievement of Pakistan due to NAB efforts.
He said that to create Awareness against the ill effects of corruption among the youth of Pakistan, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in collaboration with Higher Education Commission (HEC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Over 42,000 Character Building Societies (CBSs) have been established with the help of NAB and HEC in the country in universities, colleges and schools during the last one year to create awareness against corruption as youths are considered a vanguard in this fight. He said that NAB has established its first Forensic Science Lab (FSL) in NAB Rawalpindi/Islamabad. The Forensic Science Lab has facilities of Digital Forensics, Questioned Documents and Fingerprint Analysis. NAB has become first Chairman of SAARC Anti-Corruption forum for collaborative efforts for eradication of corruption on the basis of best practices. NAB is role model for SAARC Countries. NAB has signed MOU with China in order to eradicate corruption. Under this MOU, Pakistan and China will oversee and ensure transparency in Pakistan China Economic Corridor Projects.
He said that in order to identify loopholes, suggest ways and means to plug loopholes and measures for improvement/strengthening regulatory mechanism of Federal and Provincial Governments for transparency, meritocracy, fair play and compliance of relevant laws / rules, NAB has constituted prevention committees on Capital Development Authority (CDA), Ministry of Religious Affairs, Agriculture and National Food security, National Health Services, Regulations and Co-ordination, Prevention Committee on FBR, Prevention Committee on PID and Prevention Committees constituted in Provinces relating to Health, Education, Revenue and Housing, Co-operatives etc. NAB's Prevention Committee on Ministry of Religious Affairs has forwarded its recommendations to Ministry of Religious Affairs which were considered by Ministry of Religious Affairs very aggressively in order to provide better facilities and to address problems of Hajis. Due to this reason, arrangements made by Ministry of Religious Affairs during 2016 were appreciated by all Hajis.
He said that NAB has rationalise its operational workload and timelines have been prescribed for efficient, effective and expeditious disposal of cases putting a maximum limit of 10 months from complaint verification-to-inquiry-to-investigation and finally to a reference in the Accountability Court. He said that NAB is committed to eradicate corruption from the country by adopting Zero Tolerance Policy for corruption free Pakistan. He said that NAB hopes that joint efforts of all stakeholders can collaborate to check corruption and corrupt practices before happening with the help of all stakeholders, civil society, media and people at large.-PR
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017