Anticorruption initiatives were highlighted as a major governance theme with the coming into power of the Government in 1999 and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was created as a specialised agency solely to eradicate the menace.
The exposure to international best practices revealed the significance and adequacy of a holistic approach encompassing a three-pronged methodology of Awareness, Prevention, and Enforcement.
An indigenous effort by NAB has thus resulted in formulation of a National Anti Corruption Strategy (NACS).
The experience has, however, brought along opportunities as well as frustrations. On the opportunities side experiences acquired from international practices have been effectively utilised as capacity building initiatives.
This has led to coalition building and the implementation of NACS. There have been frustrations on issues of overseas jurisdictions and the lack of co-operation, in the absence of adequate legal and institutional framework. With the onset of UNCAC another opportunity has arisen to supplement the anticorruption drive in today's milieu of globalisation.
Throughout these negotiations, Pakistan has been a key stakeholder in an effort to fully take advantage of arising opportunities.
However, we remain cognisant of apprehensions that are bound to surface as we move towards the decision to ratify the Convention.
Lack of expertise, administrative, institutional, and legal framework and in many cases the political will remain thorny issues with many signatory states.
In an effort towards a consensus oriented open discussion, we are willing to go an extra mile.
Our commitment to the cause is also reflected by the fact that Pakistan is the first signatory member state to further the cause by holding this Conference.
We sincerely hope to initiate a dialogue in pursuance to removing any doubts that may still be there.
This may require a better understanding and further deliberations as creating an economic balance remains a goal to be achieved, and we remain committed to the cause.
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