ISLAMABAD: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry on Wednesday said Pakistan was a role model for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries in eliminating corruption.
Chairing a meeting to review the performance of NAB, he said it was encouraging for Pakistan that it was considered as a role model for the SAARC countries in the eradication of corruption due to NAB’s efforts, a press release said.
He said it was a great achievement for Pakistan to become the first chairman of SAARC Anti-Corruption Forum, adding that “Pakistan is the only country who’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI), according to Transparency International report, has decreased from 175 to 116 during the last three years.”
Since its inception, Chaudhry said, one of the NAB’s major achievements had been the recovery of around Rs 287.763 billion of ill-gotten money, which was deposited in the national exchequer.
He said the NAB was one of the world investigation agencies, which has been prescribed for efficient, effective and expeditious disposal of all cases, including white collar crimes, in a maximum limit of 10 months from complaint verification-to-inquiry-to-investigation and finally to a reference in the accountability court.
The chairman said the NAB had organised a SAARC seminar in Islamabad in which the member countries, including India, had participated and appreciated the anti-corruption strategy adopted by the NAB in curbing the menace of corruption.
The performance of NAB was improved under the leadership of Qamar Zaman Chaudhry. The number of complaints, inquiries and investigations has been doubled during the tenure of the current management, which reflects enhanced public trust in the bureau.