'All segments of society must engage in efforts to end corruption'

DG Anti Corruption, Punjab, Brigadier Muhammad Aslam Ghumman (Retd) has said that all segments of society would have to engage in a sincere exercise of self appraisal for eliminating corruption from the society and this task would start with everyone bringing about improvement in his own behaviour, practices and carrying out self accountability.
He was speaking at a seminar entitled "Corruption a Social Ulcer" as chief guest here at the old Senate Hall of Agriculture University, which amongst others was also attended by V. C. Agriculture University Dr Bashir Ahmad, Additional Director Anti Corruption Abdul Jabbar Shaheen, a large number of students and teachers and representatives of various sections of society.
Brigadier Ghumman said that government departments, politicians, businessmen and all other sections of society were in the grip of this evil and it should be a matter of serious concern for all of us.
He said that responsibility of this social evil having penetrated so deep in the society rested upon everyone. He said that it was the need of the hour that we adopted a collective approach and instead of working for individual benefits strived for the collective benefit and betterment of the society.
Ghumman said that the corruption took its roots in this country from the settlement claims, which started after the partition. India stopped the claim settlement in 1957 but here, unfortunately, this practice continued. Sadly, very valuable prime land outside the cities was allotted against the claims, which propelled an unending series of loot and started a race for becoming rich overnight, which still grips our society like an octopus.
He said that according to a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) report there was a tax-evasion to the tune of Rs 300 billion per annum going on unabated. Only if this amount went into the national exchequer, a number of development projects could be executed benefiting a large number of people.
He further said that he started the process of accountability from his own department by taking action against one grade 18 Officer, two grade 17 officers and five inspectors. He said that the department was being purged of the officers not having good repute who were being replaced with officers known for their honesty and unblemished character.
He said that presently over 80 vacancies were available in his department due to non availability of suitable incumbents and now an attempt was being made to fill these posts through the Public Service Commission.
Additional Director Anti Corruption Abdul Jabbar Shaheen said that 107 countries of the world were less corrupt than Pakistan while 16 countries of the world had repute of being more corrupt than Pakistan.
Those who addressed the seminar included university students Rana Akram, Hira Sher and the University Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Bashir Ahmad.