Corruption today continues to take a great toll on our societies, and threatens to exacerbate wider challenges that our society face - may these be poverty, inequality of income, environment, delivering public services to all citizens or maintaining peace and stability.
Corruption continues to represent a significant threat to Pakistan's growth and financial stability. Corruption destroys public trust, undermines the rule of law, skews competition, impedes cross-border investment and trade, and distorts resource allocation. Corruption also needs to be fought because it undermines development. It is not only a moral issue. It has an impact on economy and, because of corruption; people have less education, less access to water, and less access to health and housing. An important element in response to corruption is partnering with public sector to ensure a co-ordinated approach to address critical gaps.
Bribery imposes a heavy price on both business and society as a whole. Combating bribery remains an important priority for the Bureau, including by helping to level the playing field for business and giving the private sector the confidence it needs to invest in Pakistan's infrastructure and other growth-producing sectors and projects.
NAB recognises that promoting greater transparency and integrity in the public sector is essential to preventing the misuse or diversion of public funds and conflicts of interest, which can have a significant negative impact on economic growth and development. In particular, transparency in public investment and procurement processes will boost business confidence and enhance trade and investment. Concrete action on these issues will also directly support the Government's developmental agenda, by helping to protect public finances required for investment in infrastructure.
NAB realises that it must continue to work closely with other public sector entities and civil society to reduce corruption as it cannot fight corruption alone. The private sector has an essential role in partnering and helping us to achieve our anti-corruption goals. The Bureau has intensified its Awareness Campaign against corruption/corrupt practices during the year 2014-2015 and the message "Say No to Corruption" has been disseminated successfully through various platforms ie electronic/print media, seminars, National ID card, driving license, ATM machines, national cricket and hockey team, celebrities, and many other channels.
I take great pride in sharing that NAB has prosecuted the corrupt and has recovered over Rs 264 billion of looted public money since its inception till date, besides jail terms and other punishments. The conviction rate of NAB is about 70%. NAB has also constituted Prevention Committees under the purview of section 33C of NAO 1999 both at Federal and Provincial level in order to suggest changes and bring reforms in the existing laws and rules to curb the menace of corruption in the public sectors.
I strongly believe that a huge potential in combating corruption through education lies in incorporating ethics in the education system from the youngest classrooms to the PhD level. This can happen by making ethics part of regular courses as well as through a separate ethics stream. Inculcating basic ethical values needs to start at the youngest age through appropriate learning activities. NAB has signed an MoU with HEC for incorporating anti corruption themes in the curriculum.
NAB commits to lead by example and holds itself accountable for its anti-corruption commitments, including by reporting annually on progress made in meeting these commitments and publishing these reports in the form of Annual Report, newsletters etc.
Today corruption is one of the most talked about problems. We, as a nation, need to work together to stop corruption before it becomes the norm and reaches epidemic levels.
I strongly believe that we Pakistanis have the energy, the fortitude to show the way in the fight against corruption.
Each one of us can make a difference by leading ethical personal and professional lives and we can all make a greater difference by joining together civil society, academia, governments and business to ensure that life in our community at work and in our country is free of corruption.