ISLAMABAD, Nov 24: Chair-man of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Lt-Gen Munir Hafez is leaving for Japan on Sunday to attend the ADB-OECD conference on combating corruption in the Asia Pacific region.

The conference is being held in Tokyo from November 28 to 30.

According to an official statement, the theme of the conference is “ADB-OECD Anti-Corruption Initiative for Asia- Pacific: Combating Corruption in the New Millennium.” Pakistan has decided to endorse the draft anti-corruption action plan for Asia and the Pacific with complete consensus and in line with government policies.

The statement said that it would be the first commitment of Pakistan against corruption at international forums which will bring it in the frontline of nations determined to seriously tackle this ever-growing menace.

It also demonstrates the resolve of the government to deal with corruption in a more organised way using internationally accepted pillars of integrity system, it said.

The objective of combating corruption in Asia and the Pacific economies was identified at Manila, Philippines, where the first conference was held in October 1999. At the second conference held at Seoul, South Korea, this objective was built upon and strategies were worked out to fight corruption in public and corporate sectors and strengthening of co-operation between member countries.

The Seoul conference was participated by 200 delegates, including those from Pakistan. Pakistan was part of the working group which prepared the draft anti-corruption action plan for Asia and Pacific.

The statement said that this draft was expected to be endorsed in the forthcoming conference for implementation by the participating countries. The plan contains a number of principles and standards towards policy reform which the participating governments of the region commit to implements as legally non- binding on a voluntary basis.