Zero tolerance policy is implemented against corruption : Dr. Ayesha

Lahore : Provincial Minister for Finance Dr. Ayesha Ghaus Pasha has said that Punjab government is implementing zero tolerance policy against corruption. She said that legislation is being made for making Anti-Corruption Department an independent, proactive and effective investigation agency. She said that E-monitoring and Land Record Computerization is an effective strategy of Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif for elimination of corruption which is also being appreciated at international level.

She was addressing a seminar arranged by Anti-Corruption Department Punjab in connection with International Anti-Corruption Day. The Minister said that common man is the biggest victim of corruption in the country which has neither money to bribe or safarash. She said that elimination of corruption is essential for raising living standard of the common man. She said that corruption is collective issue of the state and the society which has to be rooted out through consolidated efforts.

Director General Anti-Corruption Establishment Punjab Brig. (R) Muzaffar Ali Ranjha said that Punjab Chief Minister has given approval to transforming Anti-Corruption Department as independent and effective investigation agency and much progress has been made in this direction. He said that National Accountability Bureau has described the performance of Anti-Corruption Department Punjab better and more transparent than other provinces in the light of standards set by European Union.

He said that Anti-Corruption Departments of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa, Sindh and Azad Kashmir have contacted Anti-Corruption Establishment Punjab for introducing Complaint Management System, introduced by Anti-Corruption Establishment Punjab in his offices which is a proof of quality of work being done by Anti-Corruption Punjab.

DG Anti-Corruption further told that Anti-Corruption Punjab has digitalized more than 90 percent working of Anti-Corruption Punjab and computer system is being used for investigation and inquiries. He said that all pending cases and inquiries from 1997 to 2013 have been completed in record time.

Vice Chairman Anti-Corruption Committee Punjab Rana Ikram Rabbani said that corruption and good governance are interlinked and the dream of good governance cannot be realized without eradication of corruption. He said that by providing powers and facilities to Anti-Corruption Punjab on the pattern of NAB, the campaign against corruption can be accelerated.

Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Shami said that several departments at federal and provincial level are working against corruption but the results are not satisfactory due to over lapping of functioning and there is a need to reduce the number of institutions working at federal and provincial departments for elimination of corruption so as to improve their efficiency.

He said that provision of justice results in strengthening and stability of institutions and elimination of corruption is first step towards eradication of corruption. He said that limited financial resources and unlimited desires have promoted corruption, therefore, government officials as well as all members of the society will have to adopt austerity.