ISLAMABAD: National Accountability Bureau Chairman retired Lt Gen Nazir Ahmed on Tuesday lashed out at developed countries for creating “safe havens” for money launderers while blaming developing nations for “promoting corruption”.

“We (developing countries) are placed at the top of the corruption index, even though the money laundered from poor countries is stashed in rich states,” the NAB chairman said during his maiden media briefing since assuming charge two years ago.

“Have you ever seen anyone from developed countries buying property in Pakistan? It is our people who take money abroad and purchase houses there,” he added.

He also accused Western and Middle Eastern countries of refusing to hand over wanted money launderers to Pakistan, despite what he described as the provision of sufficient evidence. “We are always told by developed countries that they cannot repatriate accused persons to Pakistan and label them as politically exposed persons. These states claim that the money launderers may face punishment if returned,” he said.

However, it is also believed that NAB has often failed to provide the required evidence against accused persons to these countries and later shifted the blame for its inability to bring them back onto others.

Earlier, during a media briefing, NAB Director General (operations) Amjad Majeed said the bureau had recovered Rs8.4 trillion between March 2023 and October 2025 by shifting its focus from pursuing individuals to helping state institutions reclaim their illegally occupied assets.

Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2025