NAB chief addresses conference on good governance and development

Islamabad
The Planning Commission of Pakistan has devoted a chapter to issues related to corruption in the 11th Five-Year Plan and the NAB is working closely with it to prepare a National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS), said National Accountability (NAB) Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry.
He stated this while addressing the second session of the ‘National Dialogue to Promote Good Governance and Development in Pakistan’ here on Thursday, says a press release.
He said the menace of corruption has links with a multitude of vices. It leads to injustice, mistrust, suspicion and extremism. It creates a sense of insecurity, hopelessness and despondency. “In our peculiar case, the twin menace of corruption and poverty are closely interlinked. A surge in one has a direct bearing on the other. The particular deadliness of the disease lies in its self-perpetuation,” he said.
To stop it all, the government has to play a lead role and make good governance its priority because good governance ensures maximum benefits at the minimum cost in terms of efficiency, productivity and quality of life. Good governance means authorities becoming responsive and utilising public funds prudently to ensure optimum return for every rupee spent from the national exchequer, he said.
He said that it has been decided that the NAB being the apex anti-corruption body of the country should restrict itself to inquiry, investigation and prosecution of mega corruption cases, and not dissipate its efforts & energies in small scale corruption cases for which the provincial anti-corruption establishments and FIA are best suited to pursue. Also top most priority will be accorded to complaints of corruption against the NAB officials. The NAB officials need to follow a strict code of conduct and zero tolerance against corruption is to be visibly exhibited, he said.
“We have to redouble our efforts to come up to the expectations associated with NAB but I must bring on record the hard work and pains taken by all ranks of NAB towards their national duty, particularly in the last one year. Taking stock of the pendency, it was decided in January 2015 that all pending enforcement work shall be completed by June 30, 2015. This undertaking has been voluntarily submitted in the Supreme Court of Pakistan also which has guided us immensely towards improvements in our working,” he said.
National Accountability (NAB) Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry said since its inception, the NAB has adopted enforcement-based approach in fight against corruption. “But I must say that corruption is too complex a phenomenon to be controlled with enforcement strategy alone. Controlling corruption on a sustainable and long-term basis requires a broader vision and multi-faceted strategy, which banks heavily on awareness and prevention of corruption in addition to enforcement approach. Special focus is therefore being given to awareness and prevention activities to spread the message against corruption. Character Building Societies (CBS) are being set up in educational institutions across the country to build an effective edifice against corruption. An MOU has been signed in October 2014 with the HEC in this respect,” he said.
He reiterated that the NAB is embarked on the course to eradicate the scourge of corruption. “But I must admit that NAB alone cannot fight war against corruption. It is a collective social responsibility. The intelligentsia and media have to play an important role. The dream of a corruption-free society will remain elusive unless we the citizens of Pakistan reduce corruption tolerance threshold, elect honest public representatives and above all generate a strong political will to wipe out corruption from the sacred soil of our country. On the part of NAB, we are determined to perform our duties with absolute professionalism, unimpeachable integrity and without fear or favour to anyone. I would request all of you to join me in renewing our vows and commitment to eradicate and uproot corruption from our beloved country and leave to our future generations a better Pakistan,” he said.