Inspector Anti Corruption...... helpful thread

[Shazi76]

Pakistan’s National Anti Corruption Strategy

A strong institutional and legal anti-corruption framework needs to be established which must continuously be seen by the public to be working in a transparent and non-partisan manner. The mechanism would facilitate the enforcement of the law fairly, transparently and most of all with integrity.
Legal System and the Judiciary
Significant reforms are needed if the justice system is to fulfill its essential function in society. The objective should be to cleanse the judiciary and the legal system especially court officials and the legal profession of the widely perceived taint of pervasive corruption. The courts must be transformed from being a major contributor to the problem of corruption to become a significant agent for its elimination.
Media Strategy
While the government should provide an enabling environment for the media to grow and perform their functions, the media must respond by becoming more responsible and by creation of self-accountability mechanisms. The main objective should be to play an effective role in representing the people in demanding a clean government.
Civil Society
Mechanisms should be developed that could ensure public participation to fight corruption at different levels. There is need to allow for the development of a civil society that demands clean government, the government has to endeavour to create a vigorous civil society by welcoming it as a partner in the fight against corruption.
Private sector
The most critical issue is that of consumer protection as there is no comprehensive legislation governing consumer rights. The other issue is that of documentation wherein a participatory approach for the documentation of the economy will lead to increased transparency of the business activity.
Implementation of the NACS is the responsibility of the stakeholders. Each pillar/sector of the National integrity System is responsible to review its working in the light of the recommendations and make changes accordingly. The mechanism approved by the government consists of an Implementation Committee comprising of senior public managers, representatives of media, academia, Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and members of the business community. The Chairman of the NAB heads the Committee.
Implementation status and Future focus
Implementation of the NACS though slower than desired, did move on at a steady pace in the initial phase. Despite less than enthusiastic participation by many of the stakeholders, some of the achievements so far include:
Awareness and Education
o Promoting awareness through the education sector
Public and private school systems have been engaged in the drive to sensitize students about the causes and ill effects of corruption on national development and on the life of an individual. Major activities include conferences/workshops of educational professionals; interactions with students at secondary school level; painting and essay writing competitions for students at both school and college levels. Senor students from colleges and universities have been incorporated in the conferences, workshops and seminars held. Mention must be made of the wholehearted support and participation of the Ministry of Education, Private school systems and the Punjab Text Book Board.
As a result of these interactions, anti-corruption themes have been introduced in the latest editions of the textbooks published for students at different levels.
o Employment of Media
Media campaigns require a consistent, continuous and long drawn effort making it budget intensive.
NACS was introduced through commercials on all major TV channels. Three major talk shows on different TV channels dedicated episodes to discussions and debate on corruption issues (namely ‘Such To Yeh Hai’, ‘Pachas Minute’, and ‘Mujahid Tonight’). Two drama serials have been produced and aired (one being shown currently on ATV by the name of ‘Sill’ the other one was named ‘Kaante’). Motivational songs have also been produced and aired. Members of the NACS Implementation Committee Secretariat have also been invited over in different talk shows on various channels on TV and Radio.
Print media has also been consistently employed for the launch and subsequent awareness about the NACS and the anti-corruption drive in general. The advertisements attempted to move the public sentiment against corruption on the one hand, and induced certain public and private sector organizations to put their house in order by being more vigilant against corrupt practices in vogue in those entities, on the other. Newspapers have also been publishing articles on the issue of corruption on a regular basis to help keep it in public focus continuously.
o Civil Service Training Institutions
The civil service training institutions like the Civil Services Academy, National Institute of Public Administration and the Pakistan Administrative Staff College are involved. Anti-corruption themes/courses have been introduced in training modules. Research and lectures on similar themes have also been instituted in the training programmes of these elite civil service institutions.
o Surveys
Two small-scale surveys were carried out in 2004 to determine the shape and direction of the Awareness Campaign. Planning for a larger, more comprehensive survey to assess the level and impact of corruption on the lives of ordinary people and specific sectors of society has been complete for sometime though the process has not been initiated so far. Once accomplished, this survey would serve the purpose of providing a baseline with which the entire anti corruption drive could later be compared through subsequent surveys.
o Conferences and Seminars
Several conferences and seminars have been organized in the last four years. Two of the more noteworthy are described briefly. The International Conference on UN Convention against Corruption was organized in April 2004. The purpose of this Conference was to gather heads of anti-corruption agencies, representatives of international organizations, and leading anti-corruption experts to follow up on the UNCAC, which opened for signature in December 2003. A key purpose of the Conference was to develop an understanding of the UNCAC and pave the way for possible ratification by different countries.
The second conference was more regional in its focus and was on the theme of Combating Corruption in South Asia, held in November 2004. The focus this time was on corruption and its linkages with poverty and culture. Heads of regional anti-corruption agencies and leading experts participated and expressed their views on the subject with possible remedies and the way forward.

[Taimoor Gondal]

Anti Corruption Establishment Introduction

BACK GROUND OF CORRUPTION

The culture of corruption was promoted by the administration of colonial era through the award of lands, titles and jobs to a specific group supporting colonial objectives as part of political bribery. Till the Second World War, corruption was prevalent in considerable measure amongst Revenue, Police, Excise and Public Works Department officials, particularly of the lower grades while the higher ranks were comparatively free from this evil. By the time of Independence in 1947, increase in corruption by public officials became much noticeable. In Pakistan, white-collar crime had its roots in the 1950s, starting from settlement of refugee claims, industrial sanctions, allotment of agricultural lands etc; all used as mechanics of money making, giving rise to rampant corruption.

KEY CORRUPTION ISSUES IN PAKISTAN

1) Post independence settlement of refugees and allocation of properties. Evacuee Property led to the start of corruption seeping into Pakistan society surreptitiously spreading its tentacles everywhere.
2) The interventionist economic policies and wide discretionary Powers (liquid petroleum gas quotas & textile quotas) tempted public officials into criminal acts.
3) Inadequate compensation to civil servants and "Demonstration Effect" induced by the corporate salaries and remittances from Gulf countries is another contributory factor to corruption.
4) Excessive aid flows over the years and the reluctance of international funding agencies to tackle corruption in Social sector programmes, which are directed at less visible outputs also became victim of this menace. A large number of projects in the social sectors have been mere exercises in paper pushing. In the 1980s Pakistan received a major portion of its aid in the form of grants and these funds served to line many a pocket.
5) Exorbitant valuation inland acquisition of major projects led to huge increases in project outlays.
6) Crime-wise analysis reveals, financial scams have severely damaged public trust. Foremost among these was the Cooperatives Scandal (i.e. Housing and Finance Corporations), which has shaken the confidence of the small depositors. About Rs.13-14 billion went into accounts of these Corporations. In a country with low saving rates such incidents have long-term economic implications.
7) Loan Default resulted in trust breaching crimes. The nationalization policies of the 1970s gave direct political controls and financial prudence gave way to political pressure and bribes. Political clout and ability to bribe became the criteria for loan issuance.
8) The state Bank of Pakistan was unable to prevent disasters because of the weak regulatory systems. Financial institutions were completely at the mercy of ruling clique, who did not waste the opportunity to exploit the situation to their advantage.
9) Corruption is invariably a collusive form of activity premised on a nexus of the elites e.g. politicians, bureaucrats, businessmen (including foreign companies) and technocrats. Colluding bureaucrats assisted in the politicization of the civil services thus ushering in the subsequent loss of professionalism.
10) Delivery failures of civil institutions to greater extent are attributed to planned political inductions at lower levels. The result was ?reduced efficiency and increased corruption?. Some of the daring functionaries accumulated assets worth millions.
11) Complete breakdown of structures, including the internal accountability structure of government departments and Anti-Corruption Organizations, thereby resulting in delivery failures and institutional collapse.
12) The sociological factors cannot be ignored as well. Favours were given on the basis of ethnic, familial, religious and other social considerations. Large number of public office holders have failed to stand up to resultant pressures.

CAUSES OF CORRUPTION IN PAKISTAN

Despite important government reforms in a number of areas of governance, the underlying conditions for corruption persist. The challenge is to understand why, when faced with temptation, officials engage in corruption, and why the public often colludes? At the individual level, corruption results from need or greed combined with opportunity, when there is low fear of detection or punishment. The need or greed element of corruption must be understood in its wider context, by which the system fails to provide a viable alternative to corruption. Key factors include:

i) Economic: Inadequate pay, pensions and public service provisions teetering under the burden of large families.

ii) Social/ cultural: Conflict between demands of modern bureaucracy and demands of baradri, family, ethnic and other ties; social pressures for ostentatious demonstration of wealth, dowry and to provide for one's children.
iii) Developmental: Low rates of literacy, social empowerment and opportunities for self-improvement: Inequitable distribution of wealth and economic growth.
iv) Political: The feudal power structure, at the rural level; low levels of political competition: political instability, and intermittent military rule, have weakened institutions; with poor example set by politicians.
v) Legal and Judicial: Justice is inaccessible, slow and selective, encouraging contempt for the law and an attitude of everyone for oneself.

CONTRIBUTION OF PUBLIC SECTORS IN CORRUPTION

FORMS

TRANSACTIONS
(RS. In billion)
CORRUPTION
(Rs. In billion)
1. Bank Loans

470
47

2. Tax Evasions

436
218

3. Public Sector Dev. Project

116
29

4. POL Imports

67
4

5. Current Exp.

94
9

6. Public Utilities

175
26

Total

1358
333
MAJOR AREAS OF CORRUPTION

1) Public Utilities: In terms of the amount of money changing hands, Taxation Departments, state-owned banks and DFIs, power sector utilities like WAPDA, Sui-Gas etc., and other public works departments, account for the large scale institutional corruption.
2) Tax Regime: Pakistan's Taxation system is characterized by widespread tax evasion, lack of documentation, existence of large untaxed sectors, flip-flop policies of the Government and weak tax administrative capacity to collect taxes resulting in as much as 50% of the total urban income going unreported. As per recent estimates, annual tax evasion stands at Rs.218 billion.
3) Public Sector Banking. Public Sector Banks dominating the financial sector, since the nationalization of the Banks in the 1970s, have experienced serious deterioration in their loan portfolios, mainly because of political interference in their lending and loan recovery decisions. About 90% of the defaulted loans and bad debt concentrated among a small number of influential people (top hundred defaulters). Moreover, system protects such defaulters. In many cases, loan amnesties were granted. Loan recovery efforts by officials of public sector banks were undermined by fear of politically motivated retribution.
4) Public Sector Expenditures. Due to a non-transparent process and weak accountability system, public sector expenditures are officially misused, thereby, kickbacks and pilferage of revenue is in connivance with the public officials.
5) Underground Economy: The burgeoning underground economy and smuggling at large scale, are symptoms of wide spread corruption in Pakistan's economy. This underground economy has expanded at an annual rate of 20% over the last 23 years as compared to the average annual growth of 17% under normal GDP.

CAUSES OF FAILURE OF OUR EXISTING ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM

Many Governments in the past have attempted accountability drive in some form or the other but these could not materialize into potent effort to check the spread of corruption in the society.

• Misuse of the Agencies by Successive Governments, for arms twisting of their political opponents.
• Poor investigations and lack of professional expertise, to detect and investigate crimes towards vested interest.
• Misuse of mandate by the Investigating Agencies, to please their masters under social or financial coverage.
• Implementation of fair and just accountability lacked in successive Governments. Resultantly, the public demand for accountability has gained momentum in the last decade. Weakness in the accountability system, in-effective laws and the Anti Corruption Agencies own lack of professional expertise to detect and investigate the white-collar crimes.
• Incompatible Legal Judicial System is widely perceived to be an obstacle to economic efficiency. Legal institutions in Pakistan are under-staffed, lack of trained administration, defective management system and technology.
• Appointment of Heads of Investigating Agencies, and other officers on political consideration and not on merit.

In-adequacies & Institutional Weakness of the Anti Corruption Agencies. The ACAs do not have the necessary capacity of undertaking the national task.

LESSONS LEARNT FROM FIVE ASIAN COUNTRIES ( KOREA, MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE, HONG KONG & INDONESIA)

1. Honesty/Commitment of Political leadership is crucial.
2. Comprehensive strategy is more effective.
3. Anti Corruption Agency must itself be incorruptible.
4. Anti Corruption Agency must be independent.
5. Reduce opportunities for corruption in vulnerable agencies.
6. Reduce corruption by raising salaries, if country can afford.
7. Dispense with the discretionary powers of the officials.

CONCLUSION

In order to minimize the menace of corruption a coordinated and sustained strategy is required. The Government needs to urgently develop a Comprehensive, Anti-Corruption Strategy, whose implementation will be the collective responsibility of both ACE Punjab and all Provincial Governments Departments, especially when the public expect a quickened pace of accountability process.

[Taimoor Gondal]

Unprecedented surge in corruption in Pakistan
(Transparency International survey Report)

The country may not be performing well in several fields but it has moved up the corruption ladder, from 42nd rung in 2009 to 34th this year. According to transparency International’s report for 2010, Pakistan is more corrupt today than it was last year. The report released here on 26 Oct 2010 by TI Pakistan’s Chief Adil Gilani and in Berlin by its president Huguette Labelle said that on a list of 178 countries Pakistan fared worse than Bangladesh and India.

The perception of the most corrupt government was in 1996 when Pakistan had achieved the second position. Mr. Gilani claimed that billions of rupees were siphoned off through corruption which seriously affected the country’s progress. The report showed that nearly three-fourth of the e178 countries had scored below five on a scale of 0 (perceived to be highly corrupt) to 10, indicating a serious corruption problem.

The country perceived to be most corrupt was Somalia with a score of 1.1, followed by Afghanistan and Myanmar with 1.4. Denmark, Singapore and New Zealand were perceived to be the most honest countries with a score of 9.3. Mr. Gilani said that Bangladesh was perceived to be the most corrupt country in 2001, 2002 and 2003, but it took corrective measures and this year it was placed at number 39. Owing to decrease in corruption, Bangladesh’s GDP grew by five percent, compared to Pakistan’s 2.4 percent last year. Mr. Gilani said that over the past two years there had been unprecedented cases of corruption involving tens of billions of rupees in public sector organizations which should have been taken up by the National Accountability Bureau.

He claimed that the government lacked the political will to fight corruption because of which the Supreme Court had to take suo motu action against organizations like the National Insurance Corporation, Pakistan Steel and rental power plants. He said a delay in setting up in independent accountability commission by parliament might aggravate the situation.

He said that the direct impact of increased corruption was witnessed in the shape of up to 120 percent rise in food prices within a year- sugar from Rs54 a kg to Rs80, pulses from Rs50 a kg to Rs110, eggs from Rs35 a dozen to Rs60, etc. Mr. Gilani said the perception of corruption had caused a drop in foreign direct investment. The foreign debt increased from $40 billion in 1999 to $46 billion in 2008 and $53 billion this year.

He said that an across-the-board application of the rule of law, merit based appointments and easy access to justice were the only solutions to the problem of corruption which was responsible for poverty, inflation, terrorism, illiteracy, lack of electricity and hoarding of essential food commodities. He said the Supreme Court in its order in the NIC case had considered violation of public procurement rules as a criminal act and a federal crime and this would help reduce corruption.

The TI’s president Huguette Labelle said in a message that the results again showed that corruption was a global problem that must be addressed through global policy reforms. She said that it was commendable that the Group of 20 in pursuing financial reforms had made strong commitments to transparency and integrity ahead of its November summit in Seoul, but the process must be accelerated. She urged that the G20 to mandate greater government oversight and public transparency in all measures they took to reduce systematic risks and opportunities for corruption and fraud in the public as well as in the private sector.

Comparing the level of corruption perception in the region, the report said that Pakistan held the position of the second most corrupt country in 1996 and now it had improved to be placed at the 34th number, while India had improved from 9th to 91st position and Bangladesh from 4th to 43rd position during the period.

Remedial Measures
China’s example

Justice Dr. Javaid Iqbal made a very significant remark when he pointed out that China weeded out corruption with stringent punishments like death for the same crime. Can we do it in Pakistan under the prevailing circumstances? What the learned Justice didn’t disclose that even China could not do this before 1949 during the days of Chiang KY Shek when the country was in the grip of feudalism. It could do so only after the great communist revolution on which aristocracy was completely eliminated and rule of the common man was established. How can Pakistan take such stringent measures when feudalism, the source of all corruption, is completely in control of our national affairs.

Apart from the compromise option, the other punishment being awarded is to banish the corrupt from the country so that during their stay there they can freely enjoy the blessings of the looted wealth and at the same time reap rich harvest of people’s sympathies and continue to drum up their piety, harp on the incompetence and unpopularity of the regime in power and wait for its doomsday to return triumphantly home with fanfare. Since corruption starts from the above and seeps down to the common man, therefore, they will not fall short of followers they have managed to corrupt during their hay days. Even now people know what they are but that is immaterial to them. What matters to them is a corrupt fellow sitting on top so that they may also be free to indulge in all kinds of bad practices such as dacoities, kidnapping for ransom, rape, murders, looting the passerby, breaking into houses, taking bribes rendering illegal services in exchange for fat packets of currency notes carrying the noble image of the Quaid.

Stringent actions are taken and executed in a society of people with clean hands. When every one has been corrupted in one sense or the other no one has the moral courage to implement hard punishments. A crowd that was ready to stone a convict to death when told that the first stone will be hurled by a person who had never committed a sin in life, became stunned, threw away their stones and departed homes with heads hanging in shame leaving the condemned bewildered standing all alone in the death pit. In Pakistan where is a person morally qualified to pass a death sentence against a corrupt and where would one find a hangman to execute him.

How to follow China’s example?

If China’s example is to be followed, first create a Pakistan of post revolution China. There it was communism that worked the miracle of freeing the common man from the yoke of the feudal lord. Here it will be the force of Islamic democracy- pure democracy as advocated by the Holy Quran. Results achieved will be much better than what were achieved by China under the system it believed in. The fact is hundred thousand anti corruption suggestions that have been put forth so far and equal number or more that may be thrown up in future, will be of little avail unless the axe is made to hit the root cause of the menace. China’s worthy example has been quoted above which could control corruption through stringent measures. Why can’t Pakistan do the same? China first created proper environment in which it became possible to take tougher actions. China’s Revolution of 1949 came in the wake of the philosophy of Communism that eliminated the elitists, the source of all corruption, and empowered the common man with a bunch of devoted Party leaders on top who nursed only one ambition that is to make China great and strong, which they did. They were the proud people with immaculate character fired with the aim to serve people. As such they could take stringent actions without fear of favour. Mao Zedong liberated China from its feudal past and his successor led it into the 21st century with its socio-capitalist reforms. Modern China with its population of 1.3 billion is self sufficient in food which means it feeds 22 percent of world population from only 10% of world’s arable land. Its rate of economic growth is phenomenal, which is evident from the figures given below.

China’s GDP growth is around 10% on an average. Its annual exports are over 760 billion dollars. It has foreign exchange reserves of almost on trillion dollars to which it annually adds another 160 million dollars, ten times what we in Pakistan have been to accumulate over the past six years. One of every two cameras in the world, one out of every three televisions, one out of every four washing machines and one out of every five refrigerators are being manufactured in China. Out of every ten pairs of shoes imported in to the US, originate from China.

Population growth which once blocked the rapid economic growth is being controlled by following a policy one child per family. China consumes more energy than Japan and is only second to oil thirsty US. For this purpose it relies heavily on indigenous coal (64 percent). The opening chapter of China’s 11th Five Year Plan states, “Major development targets have been achieved ahead of time. China intends to be both the socialist tortoise and the capitalist hare, at the same time.” Although China has a hyper class of multi billionaires. Wealth has yet to catch up with power which continues to rests with Chinese Communist Party. In pursuance of a policy of liberalization thus being pursued, sentiments for Marxism have little place in China.

Lessons learnt from China’s example

Lesson One
China would never have risen to heights of economic strength and political power of today had it remained chained to feudalistic order.
Lesson Two
Any person lesser than the stature of Mao Zedong followed by an equally competent leadership could not have rung out feudalism and rung in the revolution of common man’s rule.
Lesson Three
It was stringent population control policy of one child that helped china to bring rapid growth rate of population to a halt that enabled it to record miraculous economic progress within a short span of only three decades. (Pakistan’s population on Independence was 3.5 crores that has risen to 16 crores within six decades and is now poised to become 25 crores within the next 10 years time. With such a fast growing population resources cannot catch up with rapidly rising population. Progress is stalled. Poverty worsens).


Lesson Four
China put each and every individual to work. Men took up tougher jobs while women were put on softer jobs in accordance with their physical and mental ability.
Lesson Five
Wealth was not allowed to concentrate in fewer hands. It was made to circulate equitably among the entire population.
Lesson Six
Substantial percentage of GDP was allocated for education under successive Five year Plans. Nature of education was largely professional and technological.
Lesson Seven
China concentrated on development of export oriented industries for which the development of required kind of technology was ensured. China depended mostly on domestic energy resources.
Lesson Eight
The entire nation stood as one whole. There were no ideological differences among the people and no inter-province clashes and disharmony.

The End Result
The moral of the abolition of feudalism is that today prosperous China is completely free of the vice of corruption. It is economically strong and politically a super power of the near future. It is well set to challenge the supremacy of the US.

A Critical Question
The question is can Pakistan benefit from Chinese experience. Answer is a big YES. China transformed then philosophy of Marxism into the ideology of Communism which further changed to embrace the blessings of capitalistic system. It was a Godless system of statecraft. It was an anti-religious religion that provided solid base to work upon by a leader of solid worth. China was doubly fortunate to have Mao Zedong to give the ideology a practical shape and his follower Deng Xiaoping who proved to be a worthy successor who led China into 21st century with essential economic reforms.

We have observed that there are two pre-requisites without which Pakistan cannot hope to step into Chinese shoes. The first one is the existence of an ideological base. Pakistan is in possession of a God blessed ideology of Islamic Welfare State based upon the message of Quran and Sunnah, which is much more powerful than Communism. It is so because communism caters for man’s material requirements to the absolute neglect of his spiritual needs without which human life remains dry and unbalanced.

It is, however, the second requisite where Pakistan finds itself standing in a blind alley. The nation needs the emergence of a man of destiny to rally around himself the entire population as a symbol of unquestionable unity during his lifetime. He should continue live in their hearts long after his death. Quoting China’s example, meet any one in Beijing, the only name that is unanimously accepted as the promoter of the miraculous economic progress of the country is Deng Xiaoping. Go any where in China you will not find people wearing Mao’s traditional dress but that matters little. He lies enshrined in the heart of Modern China. That is what makes all the difference. After the early death of the Quaid-e-Azam, Pakistan is spending its days in an orphanage being supervised by the callous, greedy, power-hungry, fascistic and dictatorial feudal lord.





Pakistan moves up on
World corruption chart



Transparency International
Corruption Perception Index
Pakistan, India and Bangladesh rankings

Year
Pak Most Corrupt Rank
India Most Corrupt Rank
B’Desh Most Corrupt Rank
No. of Countries Ranked
2010
34
91
43
178
2009
42
95
42
180
2008
47
96
34
180
2007
42
108
18
179
2006
20
94
8
163
2005
16
72
2
159
2004
19
58
3
147
2003
42
51
1
133
2002
26
32
1
102
2001
13
21
1
91
2000
N/A
22
N/A
90
1999
13
28
N/A
99
1998
15
20
N/A
85
1997
5
8
N/A
52
1996
2
9
4
54

ROLE OF ACE

ACE Punjab is to attack the factors, which engender corruption and to combat them through innovative measures and comprehensive sustainable strategy. ACE is one of the key pillars of restraint to improve accountability and check miss governance. The magnitude of the task before the Anti-Corruption Establishment is massive as it is undertaking investigation of large number of enquiries and cases. The prioritization of the work is in the same order.

It is difficult to give a time frame to get rid of corruption as the problem generally lies with involvement of low ranking officials like Patwari, Tehsildar, Police Officials, Inspector etc. The Chief Executive’s Seven Point agenda can proceed ahead and meet with success against the red tape of these officials and collaborators if only the axe falls heavily on these corruption ridden elements. Therefore, we have embarked on this exercise on a massive scale to up root the evil of corruption from public offices, in Punjab.

MISSION

The Mission of the Establishment is to deal with the prevention of corruption cases and all offences relating to criminal misconduct which include bribery, illegal gratification, misappropriation and conversion of property entrusted to the control of public servant either for himself or for any other person, abuse of public office and owning property disproportionate to known source of income either from own or other dependents.

OBJECTIVES:

a) The Anti-Corruption Establishment has been given the mission to enquire, investigate and prosecute corrupt public servants under the ACE Rules through the special Anti-Corruption Courts, in order t o enhance accountability by strengthening compliance with existing laws/rules of Anti-Corruption and minimizing abuse of public Office/authority.
b) To simplify and overhaul the regulatory and the discretionary maze to bring about dramatic reduction in Corruption to uphold public service and ensure that public service does not degenerate into self-service or rent-seeking behavior.

PRESENT STRATEGY OF ANTI CORRUPTION

a) Speedy disposal of enquiries/cases by the Anti Corruption Establishment.
b) Submission of challans in the Anti Corruption Courts within stipulated time, production of witnesses without delay and vigorously contesting bail applications.
c) Anti Corruption Cells of the Administrative Department’s are being activated.
d) Strengthening of the Anti Corruption Monitoring Cell.
e) Vigilance Wing has been created to check internal corruption etc.
f) Merit/ Justice is being enforced in the conduct of enquiries and investigation of cases.
g) Good Officers/ Officials are being taken on deputation.
h) Office Automation through computers has been introduced.
i) I.Os & higher Officers are being trained to detect white-collar crimes.
j) Performance of Regional Offices is being supervised/ reviewed through monthly coordination meetings and inspection of Regional Offices.

Aims/ Purpose
The Special Agency known as Anti Corruption establishment was set up for the purpose of investigation of offences relating to corruption committed by public servants and for holding preliminary enquiries against such public servants in the Province.
Objectives

Causes ACE as a Department/Establishment has not achieved the desired results for the various reasons. Why it happened so is a question to contemplate for all of us. It seems appropriate to highlight some of the factors/causes (and remedial measures) on account of which the society as a whole is suffering badly from this social evil:
CausesRemedialMeasures1. Laws & Rules to eradicate corruption are defective.
1. Laws & Rules be updated to make these effective.
2.There is no system to detect the crime of corruption except for a complaint.
2. Suo-moto investigation and enquiry on the charge of corruption be encouraged.
3.This crime is being committed by white-collar citizens in avery mechanical, technical, professional and engineered manner.
3.ACE should have a team of experts and consultants to detect white-collar crime.
4.ACE has been used for political motives & it did not work with free hand.
4.Free hand be given to ACE.
5.No Intelligence System in ACE.
5.Intelligence Cell be established in ACE.
6.Inadequate staff in ACE.
6.Adequate staff be provided.
7.Officers borrowed from other departments are sometimes themselves corrupt.
7.Posting in ACE should be on merit, after thorough check and proper screening.
8.Staff from Police Department (Constables, head Constables,ASIs and Inspectors) are usually less educated and with low intelligence level.
8.Staff from Police Department be taken with proper education and working skills and of good reputation with good service record. (No adverse entry) and no punishment.
9.ACE is functioning without proper facilities for accommodation, offices, transport, furniture, machinery,equipments, training, etc.
9.Proper facilities be provided.
10.Unionism creates hurdles in the smooth functioning.
10.Service in ACE be declared as Essential Service.
11.Different Agencies like ACE, CMIT/GIT, FIA are dealing with the subject of eradication of corruption in Society but their activities are not integrated.
11.Proper coordination at all level through monthly/quarterly meetings in S&GAD.
12.Judicial Officers working in Special Courts lack the normal facilities.
12.Proper facilities to Judicial Officers be provided which are otherwise available in Districts to District and sessions Judges.
13.Imbalance in economic system where in industrialists,businessmen and big landlords enjoy all facilities as compared to common man who is unable to earn his livelihood.
13.Change in economic system is required to provide betterment and economic justice to common man.
14.Civil Servants, whatever his grade may be, cannot meet the basic necessities with his low pay/salary.
14.Civil Servants should be paid properly for the Honorable living.
15.All opportunities are available to the rich.
15.Equal opportunities to the rich and the poor, be created by introducing `Rule of Law.
16.There should be punishment for the corrupt and incentives and rewards for dedicated persons.
16.Proper system of reward/incentives and punishment be introduced and strictly implemented.

[SaLman Sardar]

@taimoor gondal
it's a nice effort dear but unfortunately its of no use as the questions asked in the test would be related to Police Rules pertaining to Investigation and Anti-Corruption Rules. These are only showing structure and over all working of ACE besides all this stuff can easily be accessible from punjab portal webiste but it's useless to study it..there is still one day left so better buy a book available in market related to anti corruption as it contains all the rules pertaining to anti corruption as well as investigation in short mcqs form.

[tmkhan]

Free File Hosting & Video Downloads, Free File Sharing, Online Friends Network - Ziddu

[tmkhan]

Originally Posted by Taimoor Gondal

Anti Corruption Establishment Introduction

BACK GROUND OF CORRUPTION

The culture of corruption was promoted by the administration of colonial era through the award of lands, titles and jobs to a specific group supporting colonial objectives as part of political bribery. Till the Second World War, corruption was prevalent in considerable measure amongst Revenue, Police, Excise and Public Works Department officials, particularly of the lower grades while the higher ranks were comparatively free from this evil. By the time of Independence in 1947, increase in corruption by public officials became much noticeable. In Pakistan, white-collar crime had its roots in the 1950s, starting from settlement of refugee claims, industrial sanctions, allotment of agricultural lands etc; all used as mechanics of money making, giving rise to rampant corruption.

KEY CORRUPTION ISSUES IN PAKISTAN

1) Post independence settlement of refugees and allocation of properties. Evacuee Property led to the start of corruption seeping into Pakistan society surreptitiously spreading its tentacles everywhere.
2) The interventionist economic policies and wide discretionary Powers (liquid petroleum gas quotas & textile quotas) tempted public officials into criminal acts.
3) Inadequate compensation to civil servants and "Demonstration Effect" induced by the corporate salaries and remittances from Gulf countries is another contributory factor to corruption.
4) Excessive aid flows over the years and the reluctance of international funding agencies to tackle corruption in Social sector programmes, which are directed at less visible outputs also became victim of this menace. A large number of projects in the social sectors have been mere exercises in paper pushing. In the 1980s Pakistan received a major portion of its aid in the form of grants and these funds served to line many a pocket.
5) Exorbitant valuation inland acquisition of major projects led to huge increases in project outlays.
6) Crime-wise analysis reveals, financial scams have severely damaged public trust. Foremost among these was the Cooperatives Scandal (i.e. Housing and Finance Corporations), which has shaken the confidence of the small depositors. About Rs.13-14 billion went into accounts of these Corporations. In a country with low saving rates such incidents have long-term economic implications.
7) Loan Default resulted in trust breaching crimes. The nationalization policies of the 1970s gave direct political controls and financial prudence gave way to political pressure and bribes. Political clout and ability to bribe became the criteria for loan issuance.
8) The state Bank of Pakistan was unable to prevent disasters because of the weak regulatory systems. Financial institutions were completely at the mercy of ruling clique, who did not waste the opportunity to exploit the situation to their advantage.
9) Corruption is invariably a collusive form of activity premised on a nexus of the elites e.g. politicians, bureaucrats, businessmen (including foreign companies) and technocrats. Colluding bureaucrats assisted in the politicization of the civil services thus ushering in the subsequent loss of professionalism.
10) Delivery failures of civil institutions to greater extent are attributed to planned political inductions at lower levels. The result was ?reduced efficiency and increased corruption?. Some of the daring functionaries accumulated assets worth millions.
11) Complete breakdown of structures, including the internal accountability structure of government departments and Anti-Corruption Organizations, thereby resulting in delivery failures and institutional collapse.
12) The sociological factors cannot be ignored as well. Favours were given on the basis of ethnic, familial, religious and other social considerations. Large number of public office holders have failed to stand up to resultant pressures.

CAUSES OF CORRUPTION IN PAKISTAN

Despite important government reforms in a number of areas of governance, the underlying conditions for corruption persist. The challenge is to understand why, when faced with temptation, officials engage in corruption, and why the public often colludes? At the individual level, corruption results from need or greed combined with opportunity, when there is low fear of detection or punishment. The need or greed element of corruption must be understood in its wider context, by which the system fails to provide a viable alternative to corruption. Key factors include:

i) Economic: Inadequate pay, pensions and public service provisions teetering under the burden of large families.

ii) Social/ cultural: Conflict between demands of modern bureaucracy and demands of baradri, family, ethnic and other ties; social pressures for ostentatious demonstration of wealth, dowry and to provide for one's children.
iii) Developmental: Low rates of literacy, social empowerment and opportunities for self-improvement: Inequitable distribution of wealth and economic growth.
iv) Political: The feudal power structure, at the rural level; low levels of political competition: political instability, and intermittent military rule, have weakened institutions; with poor example set by politicians.
v) Legal and Judicial: Justice is inaccessible, slow and selective, encouraging contempt for the law and an attitude of everyone for oneself.

CONTRIBUTION OF PUBLIC SECTORS IN CORRUPTION

FORMS

TRANSACTIONS
(RS. In billion)
CORRUPTION
(Rs. In billion)
1. Bank Loans

470
47

2. Tax Evasions

436
218

3. Public Sector Dev. Project

116
29

4. POL Imports

67
4

5. Current Exp.

94
9

6. Public Utilities

175
26

Total

1358
333
MAJOR AREAS OF CORRUPTION

1) Public Utilities: In terms of the amount of money changing hands, Taxation Departments, state-owned banks and DFIs, power sector utilities like WAPDA, Sui-Gas etc., and other public works departments, account for the large scale institutional corruption.
2) Tax Regime: Pakistan's Taxation system is characterized by widespread tax evasion, lack of documentation, existence of large untaxed sectors, flip-flop policies of the Government and weak tax administrative capacity to collect taxes resulting in as much as 50% of the total urban income going unreported. As per recent estimates, annual tax evasion stands at Rs.218 billion.
3) Public Sector Banking. Public Sector Banks dominating the financial sector, since the nationalization of the Banks in the 1970s, have experienced serious deterioration in their loan portfolios, mainly because of political interference in their lending and loan recovery decisions. About 90% of the defaulted loans and bad debt concentrated among a small number of influential people (top hundred defaulters). Moreover, system protects such defaulters. In many cases, loan amnesties were granted. Loan recovery efforts by officials of public sector banks were undermined by fear of politically motivated retribution.
4) Public Sector Expenditures. Due to a non-transparent process and weak accountability system, public sector expenditures are officially misused, thereby, kickbacks and pilferage of revenue is in connivance with the public officials.
5) Underground Economy: The burgeoning underground economy and smuggling at large scale, are symptoms of wide spread corruption in Pakistan's economy. This underground economy has expanded at an annual rate of 20% over the last 23 years as compared to the average annual growth of 17% under normal GDP.

CAUSES OF FAILURE OF OUR EXISTING ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM

Many Governments in the past have attempted accountability drive in some form or the other but these could not materialize into potent effort to check the spread of corruption in the society.

• Misuse of the Agencies by Successive Governments, for arms twisting of their political opponents.
• Poor investigations and lack of professional expertise, to detect and investigate crimes towards vested interest.
• Misuse of mandate by the Investigating Agencies, to please their masters under social or financial coverage.
• Implementation of fair and just accountability lacked in successive Governments. Resultantly, the public demand for accountability has gained momentum in the last decade. Weakness in the accountability system, in-effective laws and the Anti Corruption Agencies own lack of professional expertise to detect and investigate the white-collar crimes.
• Incompatible Legal Judicial System is widely perceived to be an obstacle to economic efficiency. Legal institutions in Pakistan are under-staffed, lack of trained administration, defective management system and technology.
• Appointment of Heads of Investigating Agencies, and other officers on political consideration and not on merit.

In-adequacies & Institutional Weakness of the Anti Corruption Agencies. The ACAs do not have the necessary capacity of undertaking the national task.

LESSONS LEARNT FROM FIVE ASIAN COUNTRIES ( KOREA, MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE, HONG KONG & INDONESIA)

1. Honesty/Commitment of Political leadership is crucial.
2. Comprehensive strategy is more effective.
3. Anti Corruption Agency must itself be incorruptible.
4. Anti Corruption Agency must be independent.
5. Reduce opportunities for corruption in vulnerable agencies.
6. Reduce corruption by raising salaries, if country can afford.
7. Dispense with the discretionary powers of the officials.

CONCLUSION

In order to minimize the menace of corruption a coordinated and sustained strategy is required. The Government needs to urgently develop a Comprehensive, Anti-Corruption Strategy, whose implementation will be the collective responsibility of both ACE Punjab and all Provincial Governments Departments, especially when the public expect a quickened pace of accountability process.

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