NAB made Rs2.3 trillion recoveries, $10bn savings: chairman

ISLAMABAD: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Nazir Ahmad Butt has claimed the bureau has made recoveries to the tune of Rs2.3 trillion besides accruing over $10 billion savings to the national exchequer.

Addressing a ceremony on the International Anti-Corruption Day at the NAB headquarters here on Saturday, Butt reminded that corruption could be eradicated through collective efforts as the NAB was committed to ensuring that every act of corruption was met with consequences. The economy could revive and flourish only by following honest practices. Corruption could be checked by dedicated efforts of officers concerned, but honest people should also come forward to assist the agencies working against the menace.

The event was arranged to commemorate the day with the theme of “Documented Economy Curbs Corruption”.

Nazir Ahmed said a sole institution could not eradicate corruption and this menace could only be defeated through collective efforts of all stakeholders. He reiterated that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) would ensure that every act of corruption was met with consequences. The documentation of economy will most certainly help the country and substantively curb corruption. The NAB remains committed to the obligations of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).

Country Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs & Crime Pakistan Jermey Milsom and Director General NUST Institute of Policy Studies (NIPS) Dr Ashfaque Hasan Khan also expressed their views on the subject.

Ashfaque, in his key-note speech, said it was the responsibility of every citizen to get registered in the taxation system so that they could get welfare benefits from the state. He reminded that people within an informal/unregistered economy remained poor as they had no access to banking incentives, including loans. He emphasized that incentivizing the tax system would yield more benefits than punitive measures.

Director General, Awareness & Prevention (A&P) Division, NAB Headquarters, Nauman Aslam, briefed on the importance of commemorating the Anti-Corruption Day and role of A&P Division in creating awareness about adverse impacts of corruption. The NAB chairman awarded merit and appreciation certificates to NAB officers on their outstanding performance.