Islamabad, 07 August , 2026 (Nosheen): The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has recovered a total of Rs16,093 billion from 1991 to June 2026, officials informed the Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice during a meeting held on Friday. The committee, chaired by Senator Farooq H. Naek, received a comprehensive briefing from senior NAB officials on the bureau’s performance over the past 36 years.  According to the NAB Director General, the bureau examined 505,799 complaints, completed 7,339 investigations, conducted 121,147 inquiries, and filed 4,105 references during the period under review.Officials further informed the committee that NAB had received an overall budget of approximately Rs22.5 billion over the past five and a half years. The NAB Chairman stated that despite limited financial resources, the bureau had maintained its position as the country’s leading institution in terms of recoveries.

During the briefing, NAB Director General Operations informed the committee that a significant number of cases were transferred between institutions from 2022 to 2024, creating challenges in determining jurisdiction. He clarified that NAB does not investigate cases involving alleged embezzlement of less than Rs500 million. Senate Standing Committee Chairman Senator Farooq H. Naek expressed concern over the filing of false complaints against individuals, stating that such practices had adversely affected public confidence in the accountability process. He emphasized the need for legal action against those found responsible for submitting fabricated complaints. The NAB Chairman also informed the committee that Pakistan’s major oil and electricity sector challenges could be addressed effectively if the bureau were given a four-month mandate. He proposed the establishment of a high-level committee comprising representatives from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), and the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) to formulate practical solutions. He maintained that workable solutions to the country’s energy-related issues already exist and could be implemented within four months, adding that any proposed plan would be based on ground realities and tailored to Pakistan’s local conditions. The briefing highlighted NAB’s operational performance, institutional challenges, and proposals aimed at strengthening accountability mechanisms and addressing key economic issues through coordinated national efforts.