NAB recovered record Rs3.8tr in a year: Nazir

ISLAMABAD: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Lieutenant General (R) Nazir Ahmad said that the NAB has set a record by recovering Rs3.8 trillion directly and indirectly in just one year.

“The NAB has directly and indirectly recovered Rs6.1 trillion since its establishment, despite having been allocated only a budget of Rs56 billion,” he said while speaking at special ceremony held at the NAB Headquarters in Islamabad to observe International Anti-Corruption Day.

The event was attended by NAB’s Deputy Chairman Sohail Nasir, the UNODC representative in Pakistan, and senior NAB officials. Addressing the occasion, NAB chairman emphasized that corruption, in any form, is the main obstacle to sustainable development and economic prosperity. He stated that NAB is not only committed to combating corruption but has also been exemplary in protecting national resources, recovering and returning looted public money.

He said the NAB has resolved 22,000 complaints, and as a result of reforms, the number of false complaints has decreased significantly—from 4,000 per month to just 400. Over 18,000 affected individuals have been reimbursed their looted money.

He highlighted that 65% of the country’s population is under the age of 30, and these young people represent the future of the nation. NAB chairman said, “A comprehensive plan has been developed to involve them in the anti-corruption process. An awareness program will be launched with the collaboration of educational and research institutions, as well as stakeholders.”

He also mentioned the introduction of a Visitors Feedback System at NAB, which helps not only to curb corruption but also in improving the organization’s overall performance. The NAB chairman further stated that NAB is working in collaboration with Nepra (National Electric Power Regulatory Authority) to address issues in the power sector, with anticipated positive outcomes. He urged NAB officers to work with full dedication and enthusiasm to provide relief to those affected in the real estate sector.

The NAB chairman also announced that NAB has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with 10 countries to expedite the resolution of corruption cases. He emphasized the need for UNODC’s assistance in matters related to second residency, immigration investment, and crypto currency and investment abroad. He urged the activation of Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) to ensure timely sharing of information related to corruption cases.

Based on the annual performance report, NAB Karachi ranked first with Rs2.4 trillion in recoveries, followed by the Sukkur Region with Rs1.1 trillion, and NAB Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in third place with Rs194.9 billion in direct and indirect collections. The NAB chairman has recommended the name of best NAB officers of Civil Award to the government.

In his speech, Troels Vester, the UNODC representative in Pakistan, said that young people will play a significant role in the anti-corruption movement. He mentioned that there are approximately 1.2 billion young people globally, and their active participation will greatly help in tackling corruption.

He further noted that corruption is affecting all areas of life, and all efforts in Pakistan to fight corruption will be fully supported.

At the seminar, outstanding NAB officials were awarded for their excellent performance. Among the award recipients were Mirza Aleem Baig from NAB Karachi, Rafiq Jan from NAB Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Khitab Gul from NAB Sukkur; Rashid Badr from NAB Lahore, Mohsin Haroon, Mian Omar Nadeem, and Umair Ahmed from NAB Rawalpindi and others.