South Punjab Secretariat, NAB Multan join hands to curb corruption

MULTAN: The South Punjab Secretariat and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Multan have agreed to take joint measures to curb corruption and improve transparency in public service delivery across the region.

The decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Additional Chief Secretary South Punjab Fawad Hashim Rabbani and NAB Multan Director General Asim Lodhi during the former’s visit to the NAB office in Multan.

The meeting agreed to establish a high-level committee to improve transparent and effective public service delivery in key departments, including revenue, education, health and local government. The two sides also decided to establish a joint complaints cell and prepare a South Punjab Corruption Risk Map.

Senior officials from the South Punjab Secretariat and NAB Multan attended the meeting, while several NAB field officers participated through video link.

Addressing the meeting, Rabbani said NAB was working to combat corruption and lack of transparency in society. He stressed the need for coordinated efforts to eliminate corruption on a permanent basis and provide future generations with a corruption-free society.

He said the South Punjab Secretariat and NAB Multan needed to work together to identify mismanagement and loopholes in public service delivery institutions and take timely measures to address them.

Rabbani said an effective feedback mechanism could help identify weaknesses at an early stage and support timely action against corruption and corrupt practices. He also emphasised the importance of creating a more public-friendly image of NAB so that people could approach the institution for assistance and services.

NAB Multan Director General Asim Lodhi said the bureau was conducting awareness activities in government departments, schools, colleges and universities to educate people about the harmful effects of corruption.

He said special attention was also being given to creating awareness among students of religious seminaries across South Punjab.

Lodhi maintained that corruption in government institutions would not be tolerated and said all available resources would be utilised against those involved in corrupt practices.

He added that NAB Multan would work with the South Punjab Secretariat to implement practical measures against corruption across all districts of the region.