NAB recovers more in 30 months than in 23 years combined

ISLAMABAD, Nov 16 (APP): The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) recovered a record Rs8,397.75 billion over the last 30 months, recovering Rs548 for every 1 rupee of its budget, which totals Rs15.33 billion in last 30 months.
The NAB has reported unprecedented progress following recent institutional reforms, revealing that it recovered Rs883.58 billion during the 23 years from its establishment in 1999 to February 2023.
In comparison, recoveries made in just the past two and a half years are nearly 10 times higher—an increase of 947 percent.
According to a NAB press release issued here Sunday, the Bureau has so far recovered a total of Rs9,281.33 billion, with expectations of an additional Rs2,000 billion to be recovered by the end of 2025.
The NAB attributed this performance to wide-ranging reforms implemented under the amended NAB law, which it said significantly enhanced the institution’s efficiency and effectiveness.
As one indicator of improved processes, the number of initial complaints dropped from 2,338 to 1,639 within a month of introducing the reforms.
The Bureau also reported recovering 4.53 million acres of government land valued at Rs8,000 billion through its Land Directorate.
Moreover, it returned Rs124.86 billion to victims of Ponzi schemes and housing fraud.
To further streamline operations, NAB established complaint cells at its headquarters and regional offices, opened sub-offices in Chaman and Gwadar, and set up the Pakistan Anti-Corruption Academy for research and training.
It also created an Accountability Facilitation Cell for bureaucracy and parliament, as well as a Business Facilitation Cell for the business community.
In line with its digital transformation, the NAB announced that witness statements will now be recorded electronically, while financial analysis of evidence will be conducted using artificial intelligence.
The Bureau has also constituted high-level committees to identify and correct flaws in cases and has signed several MoUs with foreign countries to strengthen international cooperation against corruption.
The NAB further disclosed that 21 money-laundering cases, involving illegal assets worth Rs118 billion, are currently under trial.