More powerful NAB needed to fight corruption, says Alvi
islamabad — President Dr Arif Alvi on Sunday urged country’s anti-corruption institutions to keep a strict eye on financial leakages in order to achieve the dream of a pro-people ‘Naya (new) Pakistan.
Addressing a seminar titled ‘Our Faith, Corruption-Free Pakistan’ organised by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to commemorate International Anti-Corruption Day, the president termed corruption the biggest impediment in national development, adding the agenda of leaving behind a country free from corruption was of vital importance.
The event was also attended by Nab chairman Justice (retired) Javed Iqbal, Prosecutor-General Accountability Asghar Haider, country representative of the UN Office on Drugs and Crimes Cesar Guedes, besides a large number of accountability officers from across the country.
Recalling his ant-corruption efforts throughout his life, the president said it took long to create awareness against corruption among the masses.
The president viewed that no society could claim to be corruption-free as it existed everywhere in varying levels.
Alvi said absence of the rule of law cast a negative impact on society, adding that impartiality, competence and strategy were a must for the institutions mandated to eliminate corruption.
He said holding people to account on the basis of their assets was a worldwide practice to probe the white collar crimes.
The president, who earlier inaugurated a commemorative postal stamp and Rs50 coin inscribed with anticorruption messages, said that nonimplementation of laws begot corruption and lawlessness.
Alvi said the NAB should be made more powerful and urged the institution to improve its prosecution performance to enhance conviction rate. The president said the country would witness drastic changes if anti0-corruption institutions continued to catch corrupt elements.
The president said the new government was looking for funds to create a breathing space for national economy as the previous regimes looted and laundered billions of rupees. — APP