19 January 2005	Wednesday	08 Zilhaj 1425

FAISALABAD, Jan 18: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has decided to launch a 'National Anti-Corruption Strategy' in consultation with stakeholders to eliminate corruption from the private sector and create awareness among the public.

This was claimed by NAB chairman Lt-Gen Munir Hafeez at the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) here on Tuesday. He said discussions about the plan were underway and final touches were being given to the roadmap for transparency in the government, financial and corporate sector.

A dialogue and implementation committee has been constituted in which a Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) official would represent traders.

He said the 'UN Convention Against Corruption' had been signed by 60 countries, including Pakistan, and it would be implemented in the near future. He said regional offices of the NAB were being set up at the district level. The existing offices of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) would be converted into the NAB camp offices under a recently approved plan.

Gen Hafeez said in the light of NAB proposals, the government had decided to send 'Asset Declaration Form' to all employees who would have to fill them. This procedure would help the NAB to monitor the activities of government employees both at the top and lower levels.

He said NAB could not take action against bank defaulters on its own because in such cases instructions from the State Bank governor had been made mandatory according to laws governing financial intuitions.

The NAB, on the other hand, was not bound to arrest a defaulter on the demand of the SBP as it has its policy to investigate the matter first and proceed subsequently, he added.

He said a survey conducted by the NAB had clearly indicated that the police, judiciary and Wapda were the most corrupt institutions of the country. "The corruption at the lower and middle level is not only a problem for the government agencies but it is also disrupting the pace of economic growth of the country."

Defending plea-bargain procedure of the NAB, he claimed that it was a conviction for the person who struck such deals with the agencies. "We are receiving huge amounts from the defaulters and corrupt elements after bargaining and it is being publicized through different ways and means," he added.

FCCI president Muhammad Idress assured the NAB chief full support for any campaign against corruption. Later, talking to reporters, Gen Hafeez claimed that not a single reference was pending before the NAB against Senator Mushahid Husain. "All such reports are rumours and we are not proceeding in any manner against Mushahid," he added.

Replying to a question, he said the NAB had so far recovered over Rs200 billion from defaulters and corrupt elements. About $10 million have also been recovered from the corrupt sitting abroad.

He claimed that efforts were being made to recover looted money from the people who had slipped from the country. The NAB chief said investigations were being made about a 'shabby deal' in which precious Railway land had been allotted to some influential people. "Some other cases of same nature are also being investigated and action would be taken against the law breakers," he concluded.

PLANT INAUGURATED: Meanwhile, Gen Hafeez inaugurated a bleaching powder manufacturing plant in Khurrianwala. Plant owner Muhammad Idress said the plant had been set up not only to cater to local requirement but it would also export its product, particularly to African, Far Eastern and other Asian countries.