The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Punjab has claimed to have achieved a historic milestone by recovering Rs 100.74 billion from "corrupt elements" during the year 2019. "Out of the total amount, Rs 1567.17 million was recovered under direct recovery, Rs 96727.48 million under land recovery and Rs 2449.06 million recovered under indirect recovery," reads an annual report issued by the ACE Punjab on Sunday.

It further says the ACE had received 22,940 complaints out of which 21,950 were redressed including the previous ones. Similarly, the ACE initiated 5238 inquiries, gave decision on 4,828 ongoing inquiries, registered 1,340 fresh cases, submitted 869 before courts and arrested 1,597 persons after concocting 254 raids. The ACE also announced decision on 1518 ongoing cases and nabbed 48 court absconders and 312 proclaimed offenders, the report adds.

While expressing his views regarding the report, ACE Director General Muhammad Gohar Nafees said they were striving to make Punjab corruption-free as per the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan and Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar. He directed all the officials to adopt a zero-tolerance policy against "corrupt elements" and take indiscriminate action against them. He appealed to the public to play their role in making Pakistan a developed, prosperous and corruption free country by reporting activities of the "corrupt elements" to its mobile-based application.