NAB to End File System and Introduce New Property Regulations

Chairman of the National Accountability Bureau, Nazir Ahmed, on Wednesday announced that new real estate reforms will be introduced within two months to overhaul regulatory practices.

Speaking during an informal media briefing, he said the proposed reforms would be presented before the federal cabinet for approval.

He added that the existing file system in the real estate sector would be abolished once the reforms are implemented, with full responsibility placed on developers.

The NAB chief said cases against members of parliament remain ongoing, though the bureau no longer issues press releases on such matters.

He also noted that several cases have been referred to the Federal Investigation Agency and provincial anti-corruption departments.

Emphasising fairness, he said suspects should be treated with the same respect as investigators, adding, “The current NAB does not agree with what NAB did in the past.”

Commenting on international assessments, Ahmed criticised a report by the International Monetary Fund, calling its governance and corruption findings “baseless” and asserting that the IMF does not grant a “clean chit” to any country.

The IMF’s Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Assessment had earlier highlighted persistent corruption and weak institutions as challenges to Pakistan’s economic progress despite stabilisation under the Extended Fund Facility.

Ahmed also questioned the credibility of Transparency International, raising concerns about its funding sources and survey methodology.

Highlighting performance, he claimed NAB’s recoveries over the past three months were unprecedented globally. He clarified that all recovered funds are deposited into the federal consolidated fund, with none retained by the bureau.