Corruption costs developing countries $1.26tr each year: NAB

ISLAMABAD: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Justice (R) Javed Iqbal said corruption is estimated to cost the world at least $2.6 trillion annually, approximately 5 percent of the global GDP.

It is estimated that $1.26 trillion are lost by the developing countries to corruption, bribery, theft and tax evasion each year. This is approximately nine times official development assistance funding. He said Pakistan’s commitment to eradicate corruption remains clear and firm as it has established a comprehensive legal and institutional framework for combating corruption. “Over the years, we have taken steps to improve institutional capacity and align domestic laws with international norms and standards embodied in the UNCAC,” he said while addressing a virtual session of the UN General Assembly Special Session against Corruption on Friday. He said the UN General Assembly may consider establishment of an open-ended intergovernmental working group to prepare concrete and technical proposals for supplementary frameworks, including the possibility of an additional protocol, to address gaps in the UNCAC, particularly related to the swift return of stolen assets. “The proposals of this working group should then be presented to the UNCAC Conference of State Parties for consideration,” he suggested. He proposed priority areas to explore ideas including immediate return of stolen assets, penalties on the financial institutions, lawyers and accountants, and other “enablers” of corruption, crime and tax evasion, disclosure of the “beneficial ownership” of companies, a global minimum corporate tax, fair digital taxation, review and revision of unequal investment treaties.