The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) under the leadership of Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry had chalked out a comprehensive strategy National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) of awareness, prevention and enforcement.
NAB during the period of present management have recovered Rs 45 billion from corrupt and deposited in the national exchequer which is a record achievement, said a press release issued by NAB on Sunday.
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 and half years are indicative of the hard work being put in by all ranks of NAB staff in an atmosphere of renewed energy and dynamism. The increase in the number of complaints also reflects enhanced public trust in NAB.
NAB’s prime focus is on cases of cheating public at large by fraudulent financial companies, bank frauds, willful bank loan defaults, misuse of authority and embezzlement of state funds by the government servants etc. Since NAB’s inception, one of NAB’s major achievements has been the recovery of around Rs 287 billion of ill-gotten money, which was deposited in the national exchequer.
NAB’s operational methodology comprises of complaint verification, inquiry and investigation. Through detailed introspection and analysis of organisational weaknesses, overhaul of procedures and business processes, all pillars of the organisation i.e. operations, prosecution, human resource development and awareness and prevention have been reactivated.
NAB has established its first Forensic Science Lab (FSL) in NAB Rawalpindi which has facilities of digital forensics, questioned documents and fingerprint analysis. NAB has rationalised its 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.
NAB has also introduced a new System of Combine Investigation Team (CIT) in order to benefit from the experience and collective wisdom of senior supervisory officers, a system of CIT comprising of a director, additional director, investigation officer and a senior legal counsel has been put in place.
The Corruption Perception Index (CPI) in the Pakistan as per Transparency International (TI) report, was declining after 2013 due to steps taken by the present management of NAB against corrupt. Besides Transparency International, the Independent National and International watchdogs like PLIDAT and World Economic Forum had also appreciated Pakistan’s efforts to curb corruption in Pakistan.
To create awareness corruption among the youth, NAB in collaboration with Higher Education Commission (HEC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2014, and in a very short span of time established over 45, 000 Character Building Societies (CBSs) in the country in universities, colleges and schools. NAB has target that the number of CBS should reach at least at 50 thousands in 2017.
NAB has devised a Quantifiable Grading System (QGS) to monitor the performance of all regions of NAB on annual basis. NAB has also introduced Internal Accountability Mechanism (IAM) System. Till to date out of 84 officers/officials, 23 officers have been imposed major penalty which is removal from service and 34 have been received minor penalties.
NAB has filed 12 references in the Rs 22 billion Modarba Scam and recovered Rs. 1.73 billion from Modaraba scam, besides properties and vehicles.
NAB had hosted the first SAARC seminar in Islamabad where the heads of SAARC anti-corruption authorities agreed to the creation of SAARC Anti-Corruption Forum. Pakistan was elected as first chairman of SAARC anti-corruption forum, which was a big achievement for NAB and the country as well.
NAB on bilateral cooperation, has signed a MoU with China to streamline and structure and cooperation in the fields of anti-corruption. In the context of CPEC this cooperation will further boost confidence in projects undertaken in Pakistan.
NAB strongly believes in the eradication of corruption by adopting Zero Tolerance Policy across the country without any fear and favour, the press release stated, adding that joint efforts of all stakeholders help check corruption and corrupt practices.
