ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is equipped with a state-of-the-art-technology and its Forensic Science LAB has been made operational with an aim to cater to its emerging needs to eliminate the menace of corruption from the society.
These remarks were made by NAB Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry while addressing NAB officers after reviewing progress of NAB’s Forensic Science LAB.
Outlining the achievements and initiatives of NAB, Chaudhry said that NAB is striving to rid the nation of corruption by adopting zero tolerance policy. He said a concept of combined investigation Team (CIT) has been introduced as investigation officers and prosecution are working as a team to ensure transparency and unbiased investigations.
NAB is trying to create awareness among the people about the evil effects of corruption. It is encouraging that for the first time anti corruption has been made a part of development agenda in the context of governance. “Our experience at fighting corruption has led us to understand that enforcement alone cannot be cure to corruption.
It requires a coordinated and a concerted effort with a three pronged strategy of Awareness, Prevention and Enforcement,” he said. The Chairman said the responsibility to educate the public on ill effects of corruption and to make it aware of its adverse effects lies greatly with the media etc. It is heartening to see that media is playing a proactive role in this drive.
He said US Embassy has recently provided a Video Spectral Comparator 8000, state-of-the-art forensics document analyzer that will assist the NAB with identifying fraudulent documents, including travel and identity documents, banknotes, checks, and official letters.
He hoped that with this new forensics equipment, NAB will be able to investigate corruption cases, not only for NAB, but for other law enforcement agencies as well.
He stated that the VSC 8000 is the first-of-its-kind in Pakistan. From June 12-16 2017, INL also sponsored five NAB officers to attend a customized, intensive training program in Evesham, United Kingdom, on the set-up and use of this equipment. NAB officers noted that this document analyser is one of the most sophisticated and useful forensic tools available anywhere in the world and will assist the NAB in investigating corruption cases, not only for their agency, but also for other law enforcement agencies in need of forensic document analysis.
The NAB Chairman said that NAB’s Forensic Science LAB is meeting our professional requirements and is now equipped with all basic tools/equipment to give expert evidence in all three above sections.
