National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry said that the NAB is committed to eradicate corruption from the country by adopting zero tolerance policy against corruption.
He said the NAB is mandated to carry out awareness and prevention functions against corruption in pursuance of section 33C of National Accountability Ordinance (NAO).
He said that under NAB’s awareness and prevention proactive media campaign across the country, the authority has been engaging different governmental, non-governmental organisations, civil society, media and other segments of society in its campaign on “say no to corruption” which has started yielding positive results to aware people about the ill effects of corruption across the country.
As per the feedback received, NAB’s awareness and prevention campaign on “Say no to corruption” has been effectively and positively highlighted in print and electronic media throughout the country which has been appreciated by all segments of society, he said.
He said that NAB’s effective and proactive media campaign will continue during 2016 with its full swing.
He said that NAB hopes that joint efforts of all stakeholders can collaborate to check corruption and corrupt practices before taking place.
He said the recent report of Transparency International rated Pakistan in Corruption Perception Index (CPI) from 126 to 117 which is a great achievement for Pakistan due to NAB’s efforts. Similarly, Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency’s report also supports the position stated above, as 42% people trusted NAB against other related government departments, he added.
He said that NAB has chalked out a comprehensive national anti-corruption strategy for eradicating corruption and corrupt practices throughout the country. NAB works according to NAO 1999 which empowers it to act against those who are involved in the corruption and corrupt practices, he said.
He said the NAB has recovered approximately Rs 276 billion since its inception and deposited it in the national exchequer which is also a great achievement.
He said that hard work is being put up by all ranks of the NAB staff in an atmosphere of renewed energy and dynamism where fight against corruption is taken as a national duty. The increase in the number of complaints also reflects the enhanced public trust in the NAB, he added.