Director General, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Sindh Lieutenant Colonel Siraj ul Naeem (Retd) said that the Bureau would compile its study regarding construction industry and forward to the government of Sindh for formulating and improving regulations and its implementation.
Speaking at an interactive seminar on "Transparency and Accountability for Improvement of Construction Industry in Pakistan" organized by Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD) at ABAD House here, he said one-window operation is a long due demand by builders and developers regarding various regulations of construction projects, as reduction in human contact would result in less chances of corruption.
He said this recommendation was part of the NAB study on the subject and it would compile its study regarding construction industry and forward to the government of Sindh for formulating and improving regulations and its implementation. He appreciated the ABAD's initiative of adopting abandoned projects for the larger good of poor people who struggle to arrange shelter for their families. He highlighted the role of service delivery departments saying that the NAB will take up the matter of water mismanagement in Karachi due to which the poor are deprived of basic necessity. He said the NAB will also take up the matter of illegal hydrants and tanker mafia.
He said ABAD should work actively with public sector and service delivery departments to provide home to 12 million poor people of Karachi seeking a shelter. ABAD Chairman Mohsin Sheikhani said that the country was facing a shortfall of 12 million housing units and if a corruption-free environment was provided, the ABAD would be able to meet the said growing demand of houses. Pakistani businessmen should be provided one window facility, which was being given to the Chinese entrepreneurs. He said that number of investors were willing to invest in Pakistan, due to improving law and order in the country during last three years.
Senior Vice Chairman ABAD Muhammad Hassan Bakshi said that builders have to wait for months just for the approval of projects' plans. The government should introduce a prompt mechanism with the help of the ABAD, which can verify all such projects and concerned departments should approve those plans on the recommendations of the ABAD. Speaking on the occasion, Acting Director FIA Karachi Asim Khan said that the social structure of Karachi had been destroyed by changing original master plan of the city for which we were all responsible.
Senior Vice Chairman ABAD Muhammad Hassan Bakshi, Chairman SR Muhammad Ayoob, former chairman ABAD Junaid Ashraf Taloo, Acting Director FIA Karachi Muhammad Asim Khan, Chairman Anti-Corruption Establishment Sindh Ghulam Qadir Thebo, MD KW&SB Misbahuddin Farid and other senior government officials and members of ABAD attended the seminar.