NAB gets forensics document analyser to combat corruption

Islamabad: The United States Embassy in Islamabad has provided the National Accountability Bureau a state-of-the-art forensics document analyzer to help combat corruption.

Director, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement-Pakistan (INL-P), Katie Stana, on Wednesday officially handed over a Video Spectral Comparator (VSC) 8000, a Rs12.5 million ($125,000) that will assist the Bureau in identifying fraudulent documents including travel and identity documents, banknotes, checks, and official letters.

NAB Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry was also present. At a ceremony here, Director Stana said supporting law enforcement and fighting corruption is a global imperative for American government.

She recognised NAB as Pakistan’s apex anti-graft agency and noted that since the Bureau was established more than 16 years ago, it has recovered more than Rs200 billion ($2 billion) and received and taken action on more than 320,000 complaints. She hoped with this new forensics equipment, NAB will be able to investigate corruption cases, not only for NAB, but for other law enforcement agencies as well.

The NAB chairman thanked INL for its partnership and support in helping the Bureau to achieve its mission of eliminating corruption in Pakistan, both through training and equipment support. He said the VSC 8000 is the first-of-its-kind in Pakistan.

The INL has also sponsored five NAB officers to attend a customised, intensive training programme in Evesham, United Kingdom, on set-up and use of this equipment. NAB officers noted that this document analyser is one of the most sophisticated and useful forensic tools available anywhere in the world and will assist the NAB in investigating corruption cases.