ISLAMABAD: Since the approval of a plan under ‘Awareness and Prevention Framework’ in May 2012 by the Chairman NAB, Admiral (Retd) Fasih Bokhari, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has redoubled efforts to prevent corruption.
The idea of ‘Prevention of Corruption’ was a neglected aspect of NAB anti-corruption endeavors which has been given priority under the present Chairman. He is of the view that enforcement alone cannot eliminate corruption from our society; it would have to be a mix of awareness, prevention and enforcement, giving priority to prevention.
According to a press release, Chairman NAB accordingly empowered the Awareness and Prevention Division; which remained in constant liaison with various agencies under Federal and Provincial setups especially the Regulators for improvement in their existing framework. Regulators were also engaged to scrutinize their structural and resource mechanism of their setups to fight against prevalent challenges of corruption and for finding solutions to make them more robust, effective, transparent and contributive to anti-corruption drive.
This regime has been effective in identifying misprocurements during planning, procurement contracting, and contract evaluation process. Under its prevention regime NAB has been investigating mega projects amounting to over Rs. 1.5 trillion under the directions of Chairman NAB.
In this context mega projects under Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), Pakistan State Oil (PSO), Oil and Gas Development Corporation (OGDC), Capital Development Authority (CDA), National Highway Authority (NHA), Port Qasim Authority (PQA), Fauji Fertilizer Company (FFC) and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) were identified and interaction between these departments and NAB covered presentation by each department to give their viewpoints.
Following these presentations and considerable correspondence on the subject, numerous instances of misprocurement have come to light.
This, however, doesn’t mean that, wherever necessary, prevention cannot be converted into enforcement.
Despite delays and lack of cooperation by subject departments NAB has been able to gather sufficient details for action to be initiated. Major misprocurements were identified for action under enforcement. One case in point is the mega violations by KPT in awarding contract against the PPRA rules and laid down government policies of land port strategy. Specific case of inducting 75 tons Bollard poll tugs; non enforcement of contract clauses in Chinese Works Engineering (CWE); the dredging contractor; malafide decisions in planning of deep water port; and major shortfalls in its land allotment policies have been established.
Despite repeated reminders, no action has been taken by the KPT nor has any action been initiated by the current administration of KPT to prevent corruption and further losses. NAB has therefore, decided that sufficient evidence is available against KPT to proceed against the individuals responsible for causing massive loss to the state and has decided to hand over these cases to its enforcement agency for further action.
DND
