Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat-ul-Ibad has said that five most challenging factors for doing business in Pakistan during the last year were corruption, tax rates, inflation, access to financing and insufficient government bureaucracy from which corruption was cited the most problematic.
This he said while addressing the presentation of Transparency International Pakistan Integrity Award to NAB Sindh Director General Lt Col (R) Siraj-ul-Naeem today (Thursday) at Governor House. Provincial Ombudsman Asad Ashraf Malik, retired justices of Sindh High Court were also present on the occasion. He said that it was very unfortunate that corruption exists in our country in all domains from politics to the private and corporate sector.
“Our history shows that governments were overthrown on the charges of corruption,” he opined. The governor said that it is an established fast that effective accountability mechanism is essential for economic growth, investment and stability of social sector in any society. It is also a recognised fact that the intervention by NAB has acted as a catalyst, as transparency is a prerequisite for promoting investment and economic growth, he added.
Dr Ebad said that the contributions made by National Accountability Bureau to fight such a huge menace and curbing corruption is based on a three-pronged strategy of awareness, prevention and enforcement, and it has been immensely successful.
He said that since 2014, NAB has acted with a new zeal and has carried out a detailed analysis of organisational weaknesses, procedures and business processes and human resource development also. It is very commendable that NAB has recovered and deposited Rs 276 billion in national exchequer since its inception, he said.
He also lauded its work with the youth and establishment of more than 20,000 Character Building Societies (CBS) in universities and colleges across the country.
Sindh governor said that NAB Sindh is an important regional bureau of NAB, as its performance for the last year has been graded as outstanding and excellent with 88 per cent Operational Efficiency Index by Chairman Inspection and Monitoring Team (CI&MT). Its Director General Lt Col (R) Siraj-ul-Naeem has headed these tremendous results which are commended by all concerned quarters, he added.
He said that despite being subject to extreme public scrutiny and pressure, NAB Karachi has acted without fear or favour, earning the admiration of countrymen as well as the international community.
The efforts of NAB Karachi under Siraj against corruption nexus between public office holders and private sector, including land grabbers, builders and politicians are remarkable, he added, and said that his leadership skills have motivated all officials of NAB to work even harder.
He assured his full support to NAB and Siraj Naeem and said that this award is the true reflection of his dedicated work.
He said that the establishment of Citizens Corruption Liaison Committee (CCLC) on the pattern of Citizen Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) and anti-corruption and anti-fraud helpline would enable citizens to lodge their complaints about an early redressal of the same.
Transparency International Pakistan’s Suhail Muzaffar informed that this award has been awarded to four global personalities and Siraj Naeem is the fifth person to receive the same and the first one from Pakistan.
On the occasion, Sindh governor handed over the National Integrity award to Lt Col (R) Siraj-ul-Naeem. A memorandum of understanding for the establishment of CCLC and anti-corruption helpline was also signed by Principal Secretary Muhammad Hussain Syed and Suhail Muzaffar of Transparency International.