NAB’s effective anti-corruption strategy yielding positive results

ISLAMABAD, March 14: Corruption is the mother of all evils. Corruption undermines development and rule of law. Corruption not only causes delays in the early completion of development projects but also causes huge losses to national exchequer. It also increases inflation in the country decreasing the buying power of common man. Considering these facts National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was established in 1999 as Pakistan’s apex anti-corruption organization which is assigned with the responsibility of elimination of corruption through a holistic approach of awareness, prevention and enforcement and to recover looted money. NAB operates under the National Accountability Ordinance-1999. NAB has eight  Regional Bureaus and its Headquarters is in  Islamabad.   NAB under the leadership of Mr. Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, Chairman NAB had chalked out a comprehensive National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) for eradication of corruption and corrupt practices throughout the country. NAB has prosecuted corrupts and has recovered Rs. 266.544 billion since its inception. The numbers of applications received in 2014 were 40077 which is double the number of complaints 19900 received in 2013. The increase in applications to NAB is reflective of people’s confidence in our work. The litmus test of the efficiency and effectiveness of NAB’s efforts lies in the number of cases processed. NAB on the directions of Mr. Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, Chairman NAB has been rejuvenated / reinvigorated. In terms of inquiries, NAB has completed 585 inquiries during the year 2014 as compared to 243 during 2013. Similarly as many as 188 investigations were concluded in 2014 as compare to 129 in 2013. As regards, the references filed in respective Accountability Courts, in 2014, NAB has filed 208 references as compared to 135 during 2013. NAB has filed 12 references in the Rs 22 billion Modarba Scam and recovered Rs. 2.50 billion  from Modaraba Scam besides properties and vehicles. NAB has so arrested 34 accused persons in this case. NAB has also filed 10 references in Rental Power Project cases in the respective Accountability Courts. -PR