SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON HOUSING AND WORKS VISITS NAB HEADQUARTERS; COMMENDS RECORD-BREAKING RECOVERIES AND OPERATIONAL REFORMS

The Senate Standing Committee on Housing and Works, led by Chairman Senator Nasir Mehmood, conducted a high-level visit and meeting at the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) headquarters today to review the bureau’s performance, particularly within the housing sector. The session was attended by committee members Senator Haji Hidayat Ullah Khan, Senator Khalida Ateeb, Senator Husna Bano, Senator Jan Mohammad, and Senator Naseema Ahsan, alongside the Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Works and senior officials from FGEHA, PHA, and Pak PWD. Chairman NAB, Lt Gen (R) Nazir Ahmed, provided a comprehensive briefing detailing the bureau’s evolving operational methodology and its recent achievements in tackling white-collar crime. He was assisted by Deputy Chairman NAB Sohail Nasir, Prosecutor General Ihtesham Qadir Shah, DG NAB (Isb/Rwp) Waqar Ahmed Chohan, and DG (SID) Muhammad Tahir, who provided technical and legal updates regarding ongoing investigations and sector-specific reforms. The Committee was briefed on the significant structural reforms recently introduced to enhance the bureau’s credibility and efficiency. Central to these reforms is the establishment of a Central Complaint Cell designed to verify the legitimacy of allegations at the earliest stage. By actively discouraging malafide and frivolous complaints, the bureau has seen a rise in genuine reporting, which has effectively diminished the previous environment of fear and suppression. Furthermore, the introduction of Accountability Facilitation Cells for parliamentarians and the bureaucracy, along with Business Facilitation Cells for the private sector, has restored public confidence and fostered a more stable economic climate. Technological advancement remains a cornerstone of the new NAB strategy, with the Committee informed about the integration of modern tools including Artificial Intelligence to streamline inquiries and investigations. This internal modernization is complemented by an enhanced internal accountability mechanism and a global outreach strategy, evidenced by Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed with anti-corruption organizations of Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Nigeria and other countries. Financial disclosures made during the meeting revealed staggering recovery figures. Between June 2023 and March 2026, NAB successfully recovered a total of Rs. 14.485 trillion (approximately USD 51.73 billion). This landmark figure includes the recovery of 4.96 million acres of state and forest land valued at Rs. 14 trillion. The bureau compensated 129,272 victims of housing and finance fraud, disbursing Rs. 223.94 billion to those affected. Regarding Anti-Money Laundering efforts, the bureau confirmed that 39 high-profile cases involving assets worth Rs. 127 billion are currently under process, with Rs. 85.4 billion already frozen. During the interactive session, Chairman NAB addressed specific inquiries from committee members regarding malpractices in both public and private housing projects. Chairman NAB informed the committee that reforms are being introduced in the Housing Sector which will revitalize the industry and lead to a significant reduction in the chances of corruption. Senator Nasir Mehmood concluded the visit by expressing the Committee’s full support for the Bureau’s pursuit of transparency. He reaffirmed the Senate’s commitment to ensuring that government-led housing initiatives remain free from exploitation and that all individuals responsible for housing malpractices are held strictly accountable under the law.