Gilani urges stronger anti-corruption steps, endorses NAB’s accountability role

ISLAMABAD: Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on Thursday stressed the need for effective action to eliminate corruption, saying transparency and accountability remain central to good governance.

He made the remarks during a meeting with National Accountability Bureau Chairman Lieutenant General (Retd) Nazir Ahmed at Parliament House, where the two sides held a detailed discussion on transparency and efforts to curb corruption in institutions across the country.

According to the details shared from the meeting, Gilani said,

Promoting transparency is indispensable for sustainable development,

and described accountability and openness as essential for strengthening governance.

The Senate chairman praised NAB’s role in advancing good governance and contributing to national prosperity. He acknowledged the bureau’s efforts to fight corruption and promote transparency and accountability in different sectors of Pakistan.

Gilani said,

Throughout my journey, from serving as Prime Minister to Speaker of the National Assembly and now as Chairman Senate, I have consistently championed the ideals of transparency and accountability.

He added that

these are not merely administrative concepts but, in fact, the two main pillars upon which good governance stands.

He also linked these principles to the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, saying the global agenda highlights the importance of strong institutions and lower corruption levels for sustainable development.

Referring to NAB’s Annual Report 2025, Gilani called it an important document that offers insight into the bureau’s performance and future direction. He noted that the Senate of Pakistan also issues its own annual report, which he said reflects a common institutional commitment to transparency and accountability while keeping the public informed about performance and progress.

After reviewing the report’s key points, Gilani particularly appreciated what he described as the historic recovery of more than Rs6 trillion, saying it was the highest annual recovery since NAB was established in 1999. He said the figure reflected the bureau’s continued efforts to protect public money and national assets.

The Senate chairman also commended the report’s emphasis on combining financial recoveries with institutional reform, digital innovation and citizen-focused approaches. He described this as a forward-looking strategy in line with the goal of a corruption-free Pakistan and said it could help reinforce public confidence and institutional integrity.

Gilani said NAB’s continued work against corruption and in favour of accountability was important for the country’s progress and stability. He assured the bureau of the Senate’s support in what he described as its critical mission to help achieve a corruption-free Pakistan.

He also underlined the need for sustained cooperation among institutions to strengthen governance structures and ensure justice for citizens, and expressed optimism about continued collaboration between the Senate and NAB on these objectives. Gilani further said he was confident the NAB chairman would continue working with commitment, particularly in efforts to root out corruption and curb excesses in the country.

Senate Standing Committee on Finance Chairman Senator Saleem Mandviwala and Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights Chairperson Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri were also present during the meeting.

PIPS selected to host global parliamentary training conference

Separately, the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services has been chosen to host the second Global Conference of Parliamentary Training Institutes in Islamabad in collaboration with the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

The decision was taken during the inaugural conference of the parliamentary training institutes held in Accra, Ghana, on March 23 and 24, 2026.

PIPS Executive Director Asim Khan Goraya and his team attended the conference virtually after plans to travel to Ghana were cancelled in line with the government’s austerity measures.

Gilani is also the president of the PIPS Board of Governors.

Pakistan has additionally joined the interim steering committee of the Global Parliamentary Training Institutes along with Angola, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya and Thailand.