The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) achieved a notable milestone in its anti-corruption efforts by recovering a substantial sum of over Rs 7.08 billion from corruption cases during the first seven months of 2024. This recovered amount has been duly deposited into the national exchequer, underscoring NAB’s commitment to curbing corruption and restoring public funds.
According to a NAB spokesperson, the bureau also made significant strides in compensating victims of fraud and cheating. Over Rs 4 billion was returned to 21,760 victims, reflecting NAB’s dedication to addressing grievances and ensuring justice for those affected by financial crimes.
Breaking down the recoveries, the NAB reported that more than Rs 2 billion was deposited into the federal government’s account. Additionally, Rs 136 million was allocated to the Punjab government, over Rs 13 million to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, and over Rs 259 million was directed to the Sindh government. Furthermore, Rs 500,000 from a plea bargain was deposited with the Balochistan government, while over Rs 43 million was transferred to various government departments and financial institutions.
The NAB spokesperson highlighted that the bureau remains steadfast in its mission to recover more funds from ongoing corruption cases, with the intention of returning these amounts to the national treasury or directly to the individuals who have been wronged.
In a related development, earlier in May, acting President Yousuf Raza Gilani approved an ordinance amending the existing NAB law. This amendment empowers the NAB to keep an accused in physical remand for up to 40 days, a significant increase from the previous 14-day limit. Additionally, the ordinance reduced the punishment for NAB officials found guilty of fabricating cases from five years to two years.
