United Business Group (UBG) Chairman Iftikhar Malik on Sunday congratulated Prime Minister Imran Khan for making SAARC Anti-Corruption Forum a real success. He said Pakistan has proved itself as a role model for South Asian countries in stamping out menace of rampant corruption.
In a statement, Iftikhar Malik said Pakistan, under dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan is the only country who’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI) according to Transparency International Report has been decreased.
He said it is honour for Pakistan that the NAB which will now head the SAARC anti corruption forum is one of the world best investigation agencies, which has been prescribed for efficient, effective and expeditious disposal of all cases, including white collar crimes, in a maximum limit of 10 months from complaint verification-to-inquiry-to-investigation and finally to a reference in the accountability court.
He further said we should appreciate NAB for recovering Rs328bn and returning money to hundreds of white collar crime-affected people and some government and private departments and without keeping a single rupee of its share deposited the remaining recovery in the national exchequer.
Iftikhar Malik said despite the fact SAARC faces severe challenges in bonding such a diverse region with different political, social and religious traditions, regardless of lack of common grounds it is crucial that SAARC countries put aside their difference and work to fabricate common solutions to the problems they are facing in their economic and regional development as well as rule of law and menace of corruption.
He said that time has arrived now that all the respective governments of SAARC countries should have a zero tolerance for corruption and money laundering besides this, these countries should educate and involve citizens in building integrity to prevent corruption and punish the corrupt and support those who have suffered from institutional corruption.
Iftikhar Malik said he strongly recommended that the governments of SAARC countries should reform the justice systems by ensuring very stiff and stricter penalties for people found guilty of corrupt practices.
