The money in the national exchequer is a sacred trust to be used for development, defence and socio-economic well-being of the people in keeping with the country’s laws, rules and regulations. But, news reports suggest that some powerful persons have been doling out massive amounts of money from the State kitty to their favourites, or using public money for globe-trotting, buying gold for gifts, dining in 5-star hotels or lavishly spending it on guests.

In his just eight month tenure, former prime minister, Raja Pervez Ashraf, doled out Rs42.50 billion, meant for MNAs development schemes, to favourites, including PPPP’s MPAs from Punjab and 166 non-elected notables. The recipients included: Raja Pervez Ashraf’s brother Raja Imran, ADC to Prime Minister, ADC to President, ADC to AJK President, Chaudhry Pervez Elahi’s brother-in-law Riaz Asghar, some former MNAs and MPAs of the PPP and the PML-Q. Whether the funds disbursed from the national exchequer, as personal favours, were spent on the requisite projects and that whether those projects were completed according to specifications and plans is anybody’s guess in the absence of a proper monitoring mechanism.

Rehman Malik-led Interior Ministry committed irregularities in billions and destroyed its evidence. It used the counter-terrorism fund (CTF) for globe-trotting, buying gold for gifts, dining at five-star hotels and obliging loyalists, including interior minister’s senior private secretary and secretary interior’s staffer.

Auditor General of Pakistan has spotted 37 irregularities worth two billion rupees, including Rs500 million from CTF allocated for National Crisis Management Cell (NCMC) that refused to provide record despite auditors’ repeated requests. Out of CTF, an amount of Rs40.78 million was spent on Rehman Malik’s international travelling. Accompanied by his staff, Malik travelled abroad without getting prime minister’s approval. Furthermore, Rs616 million pertaining to NADRA Arms Licence Revalidation Project was deposited into NCMC account for arbitrary use. The incumbent Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had vowed to investigate the embezzlement in the CTF, but he stopped short of translating his words into action against Rehman Malik, who is currently assigned the task of Interior Ministry’s oversight as Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior.

NAB’s recently appointed deputy chairman, whose name when literally translated reads as distinguished prince (DP), claimed Rs6.3 million, in one year, over and above his pay and perks, as NADRA chief. In 376 bills, DP claimed to have bought medicines worth Rs4.5 million and spent Rs2 million on dry fruits served to guests, according to the daily The Nation (November 26, 2015). When divided over the working days in a year, the amount spent on dry fruits would come to more than Rs8,000 per day. Lavishly serving the guests is a royal trait, perhaps, DP has acquired it due to his name’s ("distinguished prince") influence on his personality. Taking a cue from his former boss Rehman Malik, DP has also managed to get responsibility for overseeing the accountability work!

The Workers Welfare Fund (WWF) is meant for industrial labourers and their families, but its custodians have been using it for their own ‘welfare.’ Since 2011, 306 WWF officials drew Rs226.3 million as welfare allowance from this fund. The fund is raised with contributions from the industrial establishment and workers, who contribute two per cent and five per cent respectively to it under the Companies Profit (Workers Participation) Act, 1968. WWF contributions can be used for providing scholarships, stipends and marriage grants to labourers or financial assistance on deaths, etc. Since May 2011, from the workers’ contribution, government officials working in WWF have been drawing, every month, Welfare Service Allowance - Grade 20 officers Rs. 50,000, Grade 19 Rs. 40,000, Grade 18 Rs. 30,000, Grade 17 Rs. 15,000 and subordinate officials likewise in decreasing order.

An interesting and revealing audit paragraph came before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on November 24, 2015, narrating how Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) stopped the construction of a parking plaza after incurring an expenditure of Rs66.05 million, without recording any reason, and handed over the property to Lahore Bar Association for establishing lawyers’ hospital. Former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani issued directives, on November 4, 2011, vide letter No. 2784, to transfer this land to the lawyers. Located adjacent to Lahore Commissioner’s office, the market price of this piece of land is reportedly about Rs400 million. In 2009-2010, the ETPB started construction work for building an 11-storey parking plaza, at a cost of Rs202 million, on this land. After incurring an expenditure of Rs66 million, the plaza’s construction was halted by the Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) Lahore as the Punjab government had imposed ban on high-rise buildings.

In another case, the PAC was informed that an amount of Rs69.12 million from Zakat fund was spent on advertising campaign during the year 2009-2010 by the Ministry of Zakat and Ushr though such a campaign was not permissible under Zakat and Ushr Ordinance, 1980.

Corruption, corrupt practices and abuse of power figure amongst major problematic factors that negatively affect the country’s development and business environment. For want of across the board deterrent action, the scourge of corruption has become widespread in Pakistan. Like termite, it is damaging the vitals of Pakistan’s economy.

To check corruption, in 2002, a National Anti-Corruption Strategy was developed that offers a comprehensive plan for tackling this vice. The executing agency -- the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) -- is endowed with comprehensive powers to investigate and prosecute cases relating to corruption and corrupt practices, misuse and abuse of authority and assets beyond known sources of income. However, lack of political will is often cited to be one of the major obstacles in curbing mega corruption cases.

To stem corruption, NAB chief has announced that his organisation is committed to eradicate corruption, using all its resources across the board by adopting zero tolerance policy throughout the country. Meanwhile, NAB has launched an awareness programme aimed at educating the masses as if the masses are the prime contributory factor to the rise in corruption. Meanwhile, JI chief Sirajul Haq has announced to launch an anti-corruption campaign from the first of March, this year.

Islam forbids corruption and corrupt practices. The Holy Prophet of Islam (MPBUH) has ‘cursed the taker of bribe, the giver of bribe and the go between them’. On the day of Judgement, every person will be required to declare: How did s/he earn money and how did s/he spend it. Perhaps, those who indulge in corruption are not aware of this or they don’t fully subscribe to the faith otherwise they would avoid it, as did Muslims of the bygone days.

The extravaganza negates the conduct and traditions of Pakistan’s founding father and his lieutenants. For comparison’s sake, let us have a look at the legacy of Pakistan’s founding father -- the country’s first head of State Quaid-e-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah. Before the start of a Cabinet meeting when the ADC enquired if they were serving tea or coffee in the meeting. The Quaid replied sternly: "Whichever of the ministers wish to have tea or coffee should drink it before leaving his home or when he returns home. The nation’s money is for the nation and not for the ministers!" As long as the Quaid remained at the helm of affairs, nothing except water was ever served in the cabinet meetings.

There are scores of other incidents which show that till 1960s Pakistani leaders avoided wasteful expenses. They treated State funds like a sacred trust and drew upon these only when absolutely necessary.

While the leadership exercised restraint in spending money from State coffers, the country had sufficient funds for catering to the needs of defence, development and industrialisation. During those days, developing nations considered Pakistan a role model for development. Pakistan ranked high among countries where government set up modern industries with national resources, and disinvested those ventures when they became profitable. The authorities used this technique as a tool for speedier development.

The extravaganza that became a hallmark of the State minions, post-1970, has adversely affected the country’s economic growth and social stability. But, unfortunately, instead of arresting this trend it was allowed to continue.

To silence public criticism, the government has set up various organisations, like PAC, Prime Minister’s Inspection Commission, FIA, NAB and provincial anti-corruption bodies. But, experience tells that these organisations were never allowed to smash the head of the ‘octopus of corruption.’ These organisations have only remained content in targeting an arm or two of the ‘octopus.’ Resultantly, the wastage of public funds has continued to grow with each passing year.

If we wish that the country embarks on the road of speedier development, it is high time that a deterrent accountability mechanism be pursued, with the civil society’s full support. Furthermore, unless we devise standard operating procedures (SOPs) and rationalise workload in each and every organisation, prescribing timelines for efficient and expeditious disposal of cases, corruption will continue to flourish.