Muhammad Bilal Khan
The Fiscal Year 2013 was yet another challenging year in the history of National Accountability Bureau of Pakistan. According to the annual report released by the bureau, on the Enforcement side of NAB activities, recovery through Voluntary Return (VR) and Plea Bargain (PB) remained Rs.3.125 billion. The prosecution efforts resulted in 65 percent convictions in courts.
Out of 20071 reports received by the bureau, 18,892 complaints were processed while 1179 remained pending by the end of fiscal year 2013.
A total of 284 fresh inquiries were authorized during the year 2013 thus including the backlog of 589 inquiries the total rose to 873. A total of 243 inquiries were finalized, whereas 630 inquiries remained under process. 463 individuals entered into VR and PB during the year 2013 and out of agreed amount of Rs 3149.985 million, Rs 3125.088 million (99.2%) have been recovered.
NAB recommended placement of 157 accused on the Exit Control List (ECL) through the Ministry of Interior.
Awareness and Prevention Division of the bureau processed 363 projects including procurements amounting to Rs. 220 billion approximately; 18 committees were 
established in all major areas of governance to improve performance.
Despite upheavals during the year, NAB was able to perform satisfactorily under the Prevention Regime in the period from January to December 2013. NAB is working with bureaucracy for its restructuring and for renewal of rule violations to prevent corruption in planned procurements projects. Work on improvement of legislative and regulatory structures of the state is under review to remove discretions and service anomalies.
NAB also established 14000 Character Building Societies (CBS) across the country in different universities, colleges and schools. It is worth mentioning that substantial progress has been achieved in the efforts for eradication of corruption as Pakistan’s CPI index has improved during year 2013. NAB has expressed the hope that with continued efforts, the bureau would achieve further noticeable improvements in the coming years.
The current Chairman, Qamar Zaman Chaudhry who took charge of the office in 
October 2013, assured the senior officials that he would lead by example and that he expects all officers to keep pace with him in the ongoing war against corruption.
Placed in an awkward situation by the Supreme Court’s decision to entrust an inquiry against his person to NAB, the Chairman decided to proceed on five week’s leave until the inquiry was completed. However, to ensure that NAB would not remain dysfunctional during his absence, the Chairman entrusted the Deputy Chairman with his powers to act on his behalf.
NAB, during the last year, inducted 280 investigators through a merit-based and transparent recruitment process. They underwent seven months rigorous training conducted by local as well as foreign faculty. This training was arranged at COMSATS university campus Islamabad where state of the art facilities were made available and renowned professionals were invited to deliver interactive lectures on specialized subjects.
NAB has appreciated the Federal and Provincial governments for their cooperation and support in enabling it to perform its assigned functions. NAB believes that no process of accountability can be successfully undertaken without the cooperation of all citizens as well as the media. In this, the media has to play a pivotal role. To this end the Media Wing of NAB has been instructed to take necessary initiatives so as to make this joint effort successful.
Chairman NAB, Qamar Zaman Chaudhry said that he was conscious of the monumental task that has been assigned to NAB and wishes all those concerned understand its contours and implications.
“It is impossible for me or for the institution that I head, to succeed on its own. In this respect, NAB would need the active help and support of all the people of this country and all its institutions. Needless to say our efforts are tied by an umbilical cord to the judiciary. It is also important to acknowledge that our success or failure is also tied to the media”, he added
Chairman NAB further said that in the year 2013, after successful completion of training, 268 officers have joined the field operations. This will enhance NAB’s capacity and help bring down pendency. The bar for the year 2014 has been raised further.
He further added that “I have every expectation of being able to reach this bar before the current year ends. NAB is grateful to the government, judiciary and the media for their support, guidance and criticism of our work which will help make it a better organization”.
Out of empirical evidence it has come to light that enforcement alone cannot succeed and it has to move hand in glove with prevention and awareness. I intend to pursue the above, internationally accepted model” he said.
NAB’s goal for 2014 is to increase its role in contextualizing and setting the anti-corruption strategic agenda on behalf of the Government of Pakistan and the political leadership of the country.
Together with the civil society through character building societies, seminars, workshops etc, NAB will work to secure the implementation of National Anti-Corruption Strategy, proposals and to promote model frameworks to combat corruption.
Stronger emphasis will be placed on the far-reaching and often overlooked links between corruption and other serious risks.
In particular, the focus will be on connecting NAB with other anti-graft organizations form emerging markets, linking the anti-corruption platform to broader messages on growth, competitiveness and risk resilience.
The writer is a media officer at National Accountability Bureau. Email:Bilalpunnu@gmail.com
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