The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has so far recovered looted public money worth Rs 278 billion. This was stated by Zafar Iqbal Khan, Director Investigation, Financial Crime, NAB. He was speaking at a seminar organised at the University of Karachi, a University statement said on Friday.
Zafar Iqbal Khan further stated that corruption was a global menace and almost every country was suffering from it. He was of the view that corruption harmed the governance and affected the economic growth. Zafar further stated that NAB was established in 1999 through an ordinance which was later became an act of the parliament in the 17th amendment.
NAB launched national anticorruption strategy in 2002 for nation-wide efforts for the eradication of corruption. He said economic growth needed exemplary accountability system. NAB has so far recovered looted public money worth 278 billion rupees since its inception which was a great achievement.
Zafar informed that NAB had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Higher Education Commission in order to include anti-corruption and ethics in the curriculum of the varsities. He was of the view that youth and students had a pivotal role to play to help curb that societal menace.
The seminar titled 'Role of Youth in Fight against Corruption' was organised by University of Karachi in collaboration with NAB at Arts Auditorium. Zafar thanked Acting Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Khalid Iraqi and Registrar for inviting him for this important program. He called for adopting curriculum based on ethics and anticorruption in the varsities.
KU Acting VC Professor Dr Khalid Iraqi said a strict accountability system was pivotal to curb corruption. "We must educate our youth to fight against corruption by becoming their role models. We all in our individual capacities must take stern actions to stop corruption since it's our national responsibility. We must complete intolerant towards corruption," Dr Iraqi added.
He called for giving strict punishments to the corrupt individuals in order to give a strong message and it will help in reducing the corruption. He announced to include anti-corruption and ethics in the curriculum of Faculty of Management and Administrative Sciences and to hold another programme in collaboration with NAB at Faculty of Management and Administrative Sciences in which students will be actively involved.