By adopting the international methods to prevent corruption, the National Accountability Bureau has intervened into the projects and procurements worth Rs 1.5 trillion and saved Rs 200 billion of public money from corruption during 2012, said Chairman Admiral Fasih Bokhari (retd) on Sunday.
While talking to media, the chairman NAB said the NAB has taken the responsibility of revoking the corruption before it takes place and that had been manifested by Bureau's intervention in high profile cases involving huge money because the small-scale cases needs to be tackled by the FIA and Anti-corruption Establishment, Police and the departments which have their own courts like customs and taxation. He said despite facing severe manpower deficit, the NAB has revitalised its functioning when it was on the verge of collapse.
"Currently, we are running our affairs with 28 percent strength of manpower. Though we have recruited 260 new investigators, deficit yet exists," the chairman NAB said. He said training of new officers will take another 6 months and would further strengthen the enforcement.
He said the NAB would empower the regulators to advance meritocracy, fair-play, transparency, promote awareness, and combat the corruption that eats up at the very core of the Pakistani structure.
"At that time, NAB recovered Rs 180 billion from tax and loan defaulters as the main force behind that recovery was the pressure of the armed forces. But later, the NAB recovery dropped to single digit. But despite having no such backing NAB has recovered Rs 25 billion during last year," he said. He ruled out the impression that NAB was still being used as a tool for political victimisation, adding the Bureau always worked independently and would continue to execute its assigned functions.
About the scrutiny of election candidates, the NAB chief said the relevant wings of NAB have been directed to facilitate the Election Commission of Pakistan in holding fair and free election 2013, adding an election cells has also been set up at NAB headquarters and provincial regional offices. He said the NAB would provide to the ECP the details of the convicts, including details of Plea Bargain (PB), bank loan default cases referred under section 31-C will be reported whether inquiry, investigation, trial or completed through PB/Voluntary Return (VR).