Anti-corruption seminar: Individual accountability key to combating corruption: NAB deputy chief

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Sohail Nasir highlighted the importance of self-accountability and joint efforts to combat corruption in society.

At a seminar Thursday titled “Curbing Corruption through a Documented Economy,” organized by NAB and Legal Aid and Justice Authority (LAJA) during Anti-corruption week-2023, Deputy Chairman NAB Sohail Nasir emphasized the importance of everyone committing to performing their duties diligently and honestly.

He suggested that children should be encouraged to play an active role in preventing corruption.”Society’s behaviour is often marked by negativity and indiscriminate criticism. Indiscriminate criticism, done for the sake of criticism, has the potential to erode and harm the fabric of society.”

Addressing the gathering, Director General, NAB Rawalpindi Mirza Irfan Baig said that corruption is a curse as it disrupts the peace of society. He underscored the significance of refraining from seeking positions undeservedly and highlighted the necessity of ensuring self-accountability.

“NAB Rawalpindi is currently handling cases involving Rs 8 billion, with an overall successful recovery of Rs 350 billion. Recently, NAB facilitated the return of Rs 600 million to the affected individuals of Arain City, and its conviction ratio stands at over 61 per cent,” he maintained.

Chairman the Benazir Income Support Programme, Dr Amjad Saqib, emphasized the importance of personal transformation and advocated for demanding behavioural change from oneself before expecting it from others. He mentioned that his organization, Akhuwat, has provided loans to more than six million deserving individuals to help them start their own businesses. To date, over Rs 220 billion has been disbursed with an impressive recovery ratio of 99.9 per cent.

Dr Raheem Awan, Director General of the Legal Aid and Justice Authority (LAJA), mentioned that NAB and LAJA have jointly resolved to educate the youth about the impacts of corruption.

They are preparing to initiate a campaign and training program in educational institutions to combat corruption.

He emphasized the importance of strengthening anti-corruption institutions.

Former Inspector General of Police Syed Kaleem Imam emphasized the importance of ensuring equality among citizens to foster a harmonious and peaceful society.

Later, NAB awarded prizes and shields to the accomplished students who excelled in declamation, poster design, painting, skit, and other competitions held among students from schools and colleges in Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Murree, Attock, Jhelum, and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). About 304 students participated in the competition.