Islamabad, March 08, 2022 (PPI-OT):The Honorable Mr. Justice Javed Iqbal, Chairman NAB chaired a meeting to review overall performance of all regional bureaus of NAB at NAB Headquarters. Zahir Shah, Deputy Chairman NAB, Syed Asghar Haider, Prosecutor General Accountability (PGA), Masood Alam Khan, DG Operations and other senior officers of NAB besides all Director General (DG’s), Regional Bureaus of NAB attended the meeting via video link.

The Honorable Mr. Justice Javed Iqbal, Chairman NAB appreciated the excellent performance of all Regional Bureaus for putting excellent work in bringing the corrupt elements to justice as per law where the Learned Accountability Courts of the country convicted 1405 accused persons due to vigorous prosecution of all Regional Bureaus of NAB in coordination with Operations and Prosecution Divisions, NAB Headquarters.

During the meeting, it was informed that NAB under the dynamic leadership of Honorable Mr. Justice Javed Iqbal, Chairman NAB from Oct 2017 to Dec 2021 has recovered Rs. 584 billion directly and indirectly after complete overhauling, perfecting its procedures and taking new initiatives besides introducing a comprehensive and effective anti-corruption strategy comprising Awareness, Prevention and Enforcement with commitment of “Accountability for All” with a slogan of NAB’s faith-Corruption free Pakistan.

As per Gillani and Gallup Survey, 59 percent people have shown trust upon NAB besides NAB’s performance have been appreciated by reputed National and International organizations like; Transparency International, World Economic Forum, Global Peace, Canada, PILDAT and Mishal Pakistan.

Moreover, the Government of Pakistan has appreciated NAB’s efforts in improving Pakistan’s position among FATA/APG members especially during the preparation of post observation period Report/follow up Reports which helped FATF Coordination Committee of Pakistan to complete their work within the deadline.

It is important to note here that NAB under the dynamic leadership of Honorable Mr. Justice Javed Iqbal, Chairman NAB apprehended untouchables for the first time in the history of Pakistan and brought them to justice. Currently, 1237 references of NAB are under trial in the learned Accountability Courts throughout the country. The total worth of under trial references is approximately Rs.1335.019 billion.

NAB’s overall conviction ratio in Accountability Courts is about 66.8 percent. It was further informed that NAB, has introduced a new concept of Combine Investigation Team (CIT) in order to benefit from the experienced and collective wisdom of its senior supervisory officers in order to further improve the standards and quality of inquiries/investigations on the basis of solid evidence as well as statements of witnesses and documentary evidences.

NAB has itself prescribed a timeframe of 10 months in which complaint verifications in two months, inquiries in four months and investigations in four months on alleged allegations of corruption and corrupt practices. Moreover, NAB has established a state of the Art Forensic Science Laboratory with the aim to facilitate / assist in investigation and prosecution.

Furthermore, NAB has established its own Pakistan Anti-Corruption Training Academy at NAB Headquarters with the purpose to train and equip NAB investigation officers/Prosecutors with modern techniques in order to investigate white collar crimes and vigorously NAB cases in the learned Courts. NAB has also established Witness Handing Cells besides Complaint Cells in all its regional bureaus.

Due to this reason, NAB is pursuing its cases in the learned Courts very vigorously on the basis of solid documentary evidence. Apart from its national obligations while keeping in view that Corruption in the present times, surpasses geographical boundaries with ill-gotten money being stashed abroad, NAB has also contributed towards the country`s international commitments.

NAB being the signatory to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), has set up a cell for combating money laundering and terror financing. Furthermore, Pakistan is the first chairman of the SAARC Anti-Corruption Forum.

Moreover, NAB has also signed a unique Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China to extend cooperation in tackling corruption and to oversee CPEC projects currently under process in Pakistan. NAB under the chairmanship of Honorable Mr. Justice Javed Iqbal, Chairman NAB has shown its firm resolve and commitment of “accountability for all” to eradicate corruption from the country by adopting a policy of zero tolerance and self-accountability.

It was informed that NAB ordinance empowered NAB to curb the menace of corruption and corrupt practices. NAB has chalked out an effective anti-corruption strategy comprising Awareness, Prevention and Enforcement. Under the Awareness Regime, the Bureau is mandated to raise public awareness against the menace of corruption by utilizing different platforms.

Under Prevention Regime, NAB is mandated to identify loopholes and suggest measures to plug such loopholes relating to the practice and procedure of various ministries, departments of the Federal or Provincial Governments, statutory or other public corporations or bodies and to recommend amendments in such laws, rules or regulations, as the case may be, in order to plug in the loopholes for the elimination corruption and corrupt practices.

NAB has signed a MoU with HEC to raise awareness among students at universities as part of Chairman NAB’s vision to make our future leadership aware of the ill effects of corruption. Additionally, the Bureau has established more than 50 thousand Character Building Societies (CBS) in universities throughout the country, which are mobilized to undertake anti-corruption awareness activities.

It was informed that the performance of NAB under the dynamic leadership of Honorable Mr. Justice Javed Iqbal, Chairman NAB who has more than 40 years of experience in providing justice to people starting from Session Judge Quetta to Acting Chief Justice of Honorable Supreme Court of Pakistan and now Chairman NAB for the last more than 4 years not only remained excellent but it has increased the prestige and repute of NAB manifold against the mighty as the aim of NAB is to apprehend the corrupt elements and recover looted money so it should be deposited in the national exchequer which is indicative of the hard work, commitment, dedication, merit and transparency being put in by all ranks of NAB officials in an atmosphere of renewed energy and dynamism, where fight against corruption is being considered as a national duty.

NAB hopes that through collective efforts for eradicating corruption, we could not only check the menace of corruption from our country but also could leave a better, prosperous and developed Pakistan for our future generations.

For more information, contact:
National Accountability Bureau (NAB)
Attaturk Avenue G-5/2, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-111-NAB-NAB (111-622-622)
Fax: +92-51-9214503
Email: chairman@nab.gov.pk, infonab@nab.gov.pk
Website: www.nab.gov.pk