I am glad to know that the International Conference on the United Nations Convention against Corruption is taking place in Islamabad.
The UN Convention is a milestone in the global struggle against corruption, and the Conference should pave the way to formally globalise the anti-corruption agenda.
Let me say, however, that in the absence of a firm resolve on the part of national governments no drive to root out this cancer can be successful.
On its part, Pakistan has developed a comprehensive national anti-corruption strategy, which is in the process of implantation.
For long years, our country has been faced with rising incidence of corrupt practices, with horrendous results on its society and its economy.
In order to wage an affective fight against corruption the National Accountability Bureau was created in 1999.
Since then, it has been doing an admirable job and also shown positive results in apprehending the guilty and making them disgorge their illegal gains. But it is a tough fight; the biggest handicap being the widespread nature of corruption and it's infiltration into every aspect of national life.
The government 's problems in this regard are increased by the fact that ill-gotten money gets transferred beyond our borders, as there seems to be no check in any country on the inflow of the proceeds of crime.
Regional and International co-operation in the anti-corruption drive are therefore essential, since without them we can only stare helplessly, while the plunder goes on.
In any case, Pakistan will continue the steps that have already initiated to place itself in a prominent position in the International campaign to curb corruption.
I welcome UNODC and the delegates of various countries to Pakistan and facilitate them in their efforts to make the UN Convention see the light of day. I hope the International Conference on the subject will take the Convention through the ratification process, and assure it that our country will extend all possible assistance to the parties to the UN Convention.
We must pool our endeavours to rid the people of our respective countries of the curse of corruption, which is proving to be a hindrance in their march towards genuine progress and prosperity.