Int’l Anti-Corruption Day: NAB urged to expand anti-graft awareness drive to youth

LAHORE:NAB Lahore hosted a ceremony to mark International Anti-Corruption Day on Monday. PILDAT President Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, Dean of the National School of Public Policy M Jamil Afzal and NAB Lahore DG Amjad Majeed Aulakh were the guests of honour on this occasion.

Addressing the ceremony, Ahmed Bilal Mehboob urged NAB to expand its awareness initiatives at colleges and universities, leveraging social media to reach the youth effectively. He emphasised that 45% of Pakistan's registered voters are youth, making their involvement crucial in the fight against corruption. He noted that accountability efforts often face significant challenges, but NAB has distanced itself from controversies over the past two years, earning public confidence.

Reflecting on the influence of social media, he shared that 80% of young people became aware of the Youth Parliament campaign through digital platforms. Mehboob called on NAB to focus on addressing the youth's challenges, noting that corruption is a primary obstacle to resource availability for young Pakistanis.

NAB Lahore DG Amjad Majeed Aulakh detailed recent initiatives, such as monthly open forums, and highlighted NAB's commitment under the 2003 UNCAC Convention to share information among member states to combat corruption. Speaking on the event’s theme, "Youth Against Corruption: Building a Brighter Future," he acknowledged the dual challenges of extremism and the lack of meritocracy impacting the younger generation.

Aulakh announced that NAB Lahore had established 6,000 character-building societies in schools, colleges, and universities this year. He stressed that tackling corruption requires collective effort, noting that societal acceptance of corruption exacerbates extremism and disillusionment among youth. NAB teams have been organising awareness seminars across educational institutions to address these issues.

M Jamil Afzal remarked that while eradicating corruption entirely may be unrealistic, significant reforms can help control it. He observed that accountability officials in other countries maintain a distinct and independent presence in public life, an approach that can strengthen integrity.