Corruption, a major hurdle in the way of progress: NAB

ISLAMABAD, Oct 3 (APP):Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Justice (R) Javed Iqbal Wednesday said corruption is a major hurdle in the way of progress and prosperity of the country as it deprives a deserving person of its due right on merit.
While chairing a meeting at NAB Headquarters to review performance of NAB Operations and prosecution division, Javed Iqbal said corruption is like cancer and NAB is committed to root it out in all its forms and manifestations with iron hands. He said that the overall performance of NAB has remained excellent as compared to other anti-corruption organizations. He said that the figures of complaints, inquiries and investigations are almost double as compared to the period of 2017 to 2018 which shows trust enhanced upon NAB due to its accountability for all policy.
The NAB has introduced a new system of Combine Investigation Team (CIT) in order to benefit from the experience and collective wisdom of senior supervisory officers, he said. He said comprising of Director, Additional Director, Investigation Officer and a Senior Legal Counsel, the CIT has been put in place. This will not only lend quality to the work but will also ensure that no single individual can influence the proceedings of NAB, he said.
He said NAB has devised monitoring and evaluation system to track implementation and outputs systematically and measure the effectiveness of performance which helps in enhancing the operational, monitoring and evaluation capabilities of NAB. He said that Monitoring and Evaluation System (MES) provide necessary data to guide strategic planning and helps improving performance and achieving results to improve current and future management of outputs, outcomes and impact. The MES is an important management tool to track progress and it facilitates in decision making as well as establishes links between the past, present and future actions, he said.
He said that Pakistan is considered as role model for SAARC countries in eradication of corruption due to NAB’s efforts and Pakistan is the only country who’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI), according to Transparency International Report, has been decreased from 175 to 116. Pakistan is the first Chairman of SAARC Anti Corruption Forum which is great achievement for Pakistan. Today, NAB is the only organization of Pakistan which has established 55 thousands Character Building Societies of students throughout the country in order to aware our youth which is our future about the ill effects of corruption at an early age, he said.