PESHAWAR, Dec 11: The National Accountability Bureau is investigating alleged irregularities in various government departments in the NWFP and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).

NAB Director-General Air Vice-Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt said at a press conference on Monday that investigations were under way into alleged irregularities in the forests department and embezzlement of funds in the earthquake-hit areas.

He said the bureau was focusing on the forests department and investigators had detected cases against the powerful timber mafia.

He said cases of irregularities had also been unearthed in the distribution of relief funds in Ogi area of Mansehra district.

The director-general acknowledged that NAB could not eradicate corruption from government departments because of limited resources and it was now taking preventive measures by spreading awareness against corruption.

“It is impossible for NAB to eliminate corruption,” he maintained, adding that it could not arrest and investigate everybody.

He said NAB had organised functions in various education institutions in the province to educate people about corruption.

He said the scope of the bureau’s investigations was being extended to the works and services departments and some cases were being investigated in Fata.

He said the government was spending billions of rupees on development schemes in Fata but funds had either lapsed or had been misused.

He said references would be filed against corrupt officials after the investigations were completed.

When asked if references would also be filed against ministers, he said: “They could be filed against anyone.”

APP adds: The NAB official said the bureau had filed 43 references in the NWFP during the current year. He said NAB had recovered more than Rs200 billion from corrupt people throughout the country.