NAB launches six-point strategy against corruption

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has introduced a six-point strategy to oversee its work and to guard against any unethical and unprofessional conduct as well as to make it impossible for any one individual to influence the conduct or the outcome of any inquiry/investigation.
The six points which NAB has introduced to guard against any unethical and unprofessional conduct include evaluating the quantitative and qualitative output of individual officers as well as field units includes observance of revised and updated standard operating procedure (SOPs), timelines have been prescribed for each stage of its work which forecloses the possibility of unscrupulous elements going astray or twisting the system for illegal gains and the concept of Combined Investigation Teams (CIT) has been introduced.
This has made it impossible for any one individual to influence the conduct or the outcome of any inquiry/investigation, periodic performance reviews and case analysis by dedicated Inspection and Monitoring Teams serve as a corrective as well as educative platform by identifying the acts of omission and commission, an objective, Quantified Grading System (QGS) of performance appraisal is a major step in eliminating the culture of subjective personal likes and dislikes.
Chairman NAB Qamar Zaman Chaudhry on assumption of charge undertook a comprehensive review of the prevalent systems and practices in NAB and thereafter he presented his vision to the Organization that in order to be able to hold others accountable and to sit in judgment on their conduct, NAB shall have to put its own act together to serve as a role model.
In view of the peculiar nature of its mandate and scope of its duties NAB for its operational functions is placed outside the supervision and control of the government.
However, the NAB has been continuously guided in its work by oversight on its conduct and operations by the Supreme Court, the media and the civil Society. Drawing upon the sources of Court judgments and informed opinions in media, the present management of duct.
According to NAB, the combined effect of the six-points measures have shown good results. It has ensured that only professionalism and merit prevails in the Organization. The NAB has an efficient system of responding to complaints of high-handedness, corruption and unprofessional and unethical conduct lodged against its employees.
An Internal Accountability Mechanism (IAM) has been comprehensively set up and all complaints against NAB employees are scrutinised and investigated by qualified Intelligence & Vigilance experts with the help of senior officers.
Such elements who, for reasons of inefficiency, misconduct, malpractice and violation of laid down SOPs bring a bad name to the Organization, are promptly dealt with.Chairman NAB Qamar Zaman Chaudhry has reiterated his firm resolve to continue the policy of zero tolerance against corruption within the Organization.
At the same time, he encouraged the officers to perform their duties without any fear of negative propaganda campaigns launched by vested interest lobbies.
According to NAB, the NAB’s work is ultimately laid before the courts in the form of cases which are the only and best judge of its performance. On the directions of Supreme Court of Pakistan, the system’s weaknesses and loopholes hampering NAB in discharge of its official mandate have been minimised through introduction of a “Monitoring and Evaluation Framework” while old pending Inquiries and Investigations through a special drive have been curtailed appreciably.Through a combination of above measures and procedures NAB is geared up to augment its drive against corruption with renewed zeal and energy.