Islamabad-The SAARC Anti-Corruption Seminar yesterday agreed to initiate formulating the guidelines to govern the SAARC Anti-Corruption Forum (SAARC-ACF) in consultation with their governments.
The National Accountability Bureau organised the first ever two days SAARC Anti-corruption Seminar and the representatives of anti-corruption authorities of SAARC countries attended the function and issued the declaration at the end of the seminar.
According to the declaration, the representatives of anti-corruption authorities of SAARC countries acknowledged the need for creating the SAARC-ACF to interact on regular basis for deliberating anti-corruption issues and other areas of mutual cooperation in this regard. They also agreed for joint efforts at SAARC platform for creating public awareness among messes in South Asia against corruption. They agreed for working together to finding the causes of corruption and their corrective measures in the SAARC member states, says the joint statement.
They also agreed to share the experiences, expertise, tools and techniques among the SAARC member states to identify the corruption and corrupt practices and their eradication from the South Asia region. Continuing the collective efforts against corruption in its all manifestation including nepotism, embezzlement, bribery and misuse of authority in SAARC member states is also be part of the joint statement.
Later, Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali said corruption and money laundering are the important issues being faced by Third World countries. The CJP was talking to the heads of SAARC anti-corruption agencies who met him. He said corruption is a common issue, hampering the economic growth of the countries. Corruption and money laundering are the important issues being faced by third world countries, having limited resources for development.
He said anti-corruption seminar would enhance the cooperation in SAARC countries and reach out conclusion to evolve strategies and methodologies to curb and control the menace of corruption at regional level. He also briefed the delegates about anti-corruption laws in Pakistan and appreciated the role and efforts of National Accountability Bureau to deal with the corruption cases. The delegates also shared their experiences and briefed his lordship about the strategies being implemented in their countries to fight corruption.
Chairman NAB Qamar Zaman Chaudhry thanked the Chief Justice of Pakistan for sparing time for them, and briefed his lordship about the SAARC nations seminar on anti-corruption organised to enhance regional cooperation to deal with corruption. He also presented a souvenir to Chief Justice of Pakistan as token of respect and gesture of good will.