NAB chief asks people not to tolerate corruption

ISLAMABAD: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry said on Thursday that a corruption-free Pakistan will remain a dream unless we, the citizens of Pakistan, refuse to tolerate or accept corruption as a fact of life. 

He was addressing at a seminar on “Transparency in National Projects” organised by NAB in collaboration with National Highways Authority (NHA) at NHA Auditorium here Thursday.

The NAB chairman said, “I would take this opportunity to call upon every single member of society to make an effort by setting our personal, professional and official conduct above any type of influence and prejudice. I call upon intelligentsia, the academia and media to sensitise people about corruption and let’s say a firm ‘No’ to corruption.” 

He said NAB is determined and committed to perform our national duty with absolute objectivity, thorough professionalism, and unimpeachable integrity.  He said that lack of equity and accountability has resulted in corruption becoming a way of life and over the years, unchecked corruption at various levels and tiers of society has resulted in corrupt flaunting their ill gotten wealth with impunity and also trying, somewhat successfully, to silence those who undertake to enforce the rule of law. 

He said that corruption triggers a chain reaction and leads to injustice, mistrust and suspicion. “It generates a sense of insecurity which makes people go astray because they start losing faith in the ability and capability of the government and society to ensure their rights. All efforts towards development and good governance are rendered meaningless if the malaise of corruption is not checked timely” he added. 

He said that a corrupt act or practice sets in motion a vicious cycle in which one act of corruption becomes the source of further acts of corruption,” he added.  He said that good governance means rule of law, transparency and accountability. These should be instilled into the very thought process and psyche of the society as a whole. 

The chairman said that checking acts of corruption and misuse of authority are the mandate of NAB. “These various forms of accountability would ensure strict rule based implementation of policies and priorities. Thus everyone is held responsible for his deeds and acts when viewed through the prism of accountability,” he added.

He said the performance of NAB has acted as a catalyst, as transparency is a prerequisite for promoting investment and economic growth.  He said that NAB has launched an awareness campaign which aims at educating the masses regarding variousdimensions of corruption including its causes, social and economic ramifications and under this campaign, NAB is endeavouring to create zero-tolerance for corruption. Under awareness regime more than 20,000 Character Building Societies (CBS) have been established in universities and colleges all over the country for sensitising the future leaders of our country against corruption. 

In order to implement the anti-corruption drive, he said,  NAB under its awareness campaign is making significant efforts to reach out to the masses through the print and electronic media by holding various activities, which such as; issuance of postal atamp of NAB; printing of logo “Say No to Corruption” on driving license in Islamabad, KP and Balochistan provinces; on electricity, sui gas, telephone bills, railway tickets; on TV channels through Pemra as well as on ATM screens. It is in this respect, the NHA has also join hands with NAB to spread the anti-corruption slogan. Additionally NAB is using various ways and means to fight the evil of corruption. 

He said the Planning Commission of Pakistan has included a chapter devoted to issues of corruption in the 11th five-year plan and we intend to work closely with Planning Commission to achieve the goals.

The NAB chairman was confident that "we can win this war with collective social responsibility, that it would result in common good and that we all are together in this war and we will rise and fall together".  NHA Chairman Shahid Ashraf Tarar and other speakers also addressed the seminar and appreciated the efforts of NAB in eradication of corruption from the country.