PM directs ACE Punjab to go after big fish involved in corruption

LAHORE, May 4 (APP):Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday directed the officers of Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) of Punjab to go after the big fish involved in corruption first as due to them the deprived segments of the society had been facing hardships.
Chairing a briefing on the performance of ACE Punjab, the prime minister advised the officers to maintain their credibility and become a role model in that regard. He also asked them to ensure the rule of law which provided a basis for a civilized society.
Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, Special Assistant to the PM Shahzad Akbar, Punjab Chief Secretary and Inspector General of Police, and the ACE Punjab Director General and directors attended the briefing.
ACE Director General Ijaz Hussain Shah apprised the meeting about the mission, administrative structure, legal framework, enforcement, human resource and achievements against financial corruption and recoveries by the department.
He also briefed about the measures being taken to further improve the institutional mechanism, bridge the human resource constraints and refresher courses being arranged for the officers to enrich their professional capabilities against white collar crimes.
Addressing the officers, the prime minister said in the prevailing circumstances, the professional duties being performed by them were a ‘Jihad’.
He said the Almighty had bestowed the country with numerous resources but the corruption had inflicted an irreparable loss to it. The unprecedented corruption committed in the past had compelled the country to take loans, besides facing the economic crisis.
He said owing to corruption, Pakistan had been lagging behind other countries in the region and the future of its next generations was at stake.
The prime minister directed the anti-corruption officers to perform their duties setting aside any fear or pressure and assured that in case of any difficulty, he would stand by them.