ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday released its performance report for 2025, outlining what it described as a year of record financial recoveries, institutional restructuring and rapid technological integration across the organisation.
Deputy Chairman Sohail Nasir, Prosecutor General Ihtesham Qadir Shah and Director General Amjad Majeed Aulakh briefed media representatives on the bureau’s performance during the year.
Under Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Nazir Ahmed, NAB reported recoveries amounting to Rs 6.213 trillion during 2025, the highest annual figure since the bureau’s establishment in 1999. The report stated that cumulative direct and indirect recoveries over the past three years reached Rs 11.524 trillion, equivalent to about $41 billion, with more than half of this amount recorded in 2025 alone.
This figure, according to the report, was thirteen times higher than recoveries made in the preceding 23 years.
A major portion of these recoveries came from the retrieval of 2.98 million acres of encroached state and forest land, assessed at Rs 5.98 trillion. NAB Sukkur reclaimed 1.63 million acres valued at Rs 3.73 trillion, NAB Balochistan recovered 1.02 million acres worth Rs 1.374 trillion, while NAB Multan retrieved 0.33 million acres valued at Rs 653.97 billion. In the federal capital territory, 51 kanal of state land valued at Rs 29.41 billion was also restored.
The bureau said it disbursed Rs 180 billion to 115,587 people affected by fraudulent housing and investment schemes. For the first time, Rs 2.8 billion was transferred directly into the bank accounts of 12,892 affectees under an arrangement with the National Bank of Pakistan, allowing payments without requiring visits to regional offices.
NAB also opened profit bearing NIDA accounts to preserve the value of recovered funds before disbursement. During the year, Rs 5.4 billion was distributed to 1,126 affectees in the Al Bari Group case, Rs 4.362 billion to 11,889 affectees in the Eden Housing case, plots valued at Rs 72.23 billion were handed over to 6,750 affectees of the State Life Cooperative Housing Society case, Rs 3.157 billion was paid to 17,500 affectees in the B4U Global case and Rs 8.869 billion was disbursed to 1,211 affectees in the AAA Associates case. A further Rs 10.066 billion was recovered and transferred to provincial governments and financial institutions.
Special facilitation cells were established for parliamentarians and government officials, the business community and overseas Pakistanis. The report said NAB’s Operations Division processed 23,411 complaints during the year, of which 367 were found to be cognisable after scrutiny.
It noted a 24 per cent reduction in new complaints compared to previous years and a 52 per cent decline in complaints against public office holders and business figures. NAB completed 191 inquiries and 65 investigations, while 152 inquiries and 56 investigations were closed and referred to other departments. The number of ongoing inquiries and investigations fell by 12.4 per cent. Whistleblower driven complaints increased by 41 per cent compared to the previous year.
Investigations were supported by digital forensics, blockchain analysis and AI assisted tools through the Pakistan Anti Corruption Academy, which conducted 42 training courses and events during the year. Training covered electronic documentation, intelligence work, white collar crime investigation, anti money laundering and counter terror financing.
The prosecution division reported a 72 per cent success rate in court case disposals during 2025. Around 302 references were pending before accountability courts, while 246 references were transferred to other departments following amendments to the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999.
NAB reported progress in digitisation through the E Office system and development of a Human Resource Management System to computerise personnel functions. As part of cost saving measures, 238 posts were abolished, saving Rs 356 million annually.
A 30 per cent reduction in fuel consumption and greater use of virtual meetings reduced operational costs. An internal inquiry cell concluded 13 departmental cases, while the bureau also acted against individuals impersonating NAB officials.
The bureau said it continued engagement with civil society, professional groups and the private sector through seminars and prevention committees.
Internationally, NAB signed memoranda of understanding with anti corruption bodies in Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Nigeria in its capacity as Pakistan’s central authority under the UN Convention Against Corruption. It also reported the attachment of Rs 127 billion in assets in 39 high profile anti money laundering cases.
