ISLAMABAD: Social and family pressure is one of the major reasons behind corruption in the country. So there is a need to create awareness among women and children and convince them to play their role against the menace.
This was stated by Aliya Rashid, the director general Awareness and Prevention Division of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), during a lecture to the employees of National Highways Authority. She claimed that women and children pushed their husbands and fathers to buy things such as cars, houses, mobile phones etc., just to compete with relatives or neighbours.
“It is nothing but pushing a person sitting on a wheelchair to run. As every man wants to become a hero in the eyes of his wife and children, they try to fulfill the demands of their family members by using fair and unfair means,” she said. “If we keep hammering the word “Say No to Corruption” people will definitely help stop it,” she said.
To prove her point, Ms Aliya narrated an incident and said about two years ago she was walking in the F-9 Park when she came across four youngsters beating and abusing each other. I started offering prayers near the youngsters. Suddenly, I felt that the fight had stopped and one of the youngsters was asking the others not to make noise and not to try to pass in front of the aunty offering prayers.”
“It happened because mothers and grandmothers tell children to keep silent and pass in front while someone is offering prayers. If we convince the mothers and grandmothers to tell their children that corruption should be stopped, it will surely work and the menace can be eradicated from society in a few years,” she claimed.
Aliya said the message, “Say No to Corruption” had been written on postage stamps, utility bills, CNIC carrier papers, driving licenses,, ATM, railway tickets, postal envelopes, airport screens and newspapers in Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan. A storybook, “Gogi Says No to Corruption and colouring books for primary and secondary level have also been printed for children. The message is displayed in all cinema halls too.
She said that the ill effects of the menace of corruption have become one of the greatest challenges that every country is confronted with. The developed countries have managed in reducing its size and scope to a minimum level through sustainable measures like building infrastructure but it is quite rampant in developing countries. In our own case, corruption and misuse of authority is the main challenge. She said that in the anti-corruption efforts, prevention is another effective tool to combat corruption and misuse of authority at any early stage before it happens.
She also emphasized that women power against corruption can change the destiny of our country. Women who are our wives and mothers can play imperative role to prevent their family members from indulging in corruption and decrease the financial social pressures on their spouses.
NHA Chairman Shahid Ashraf Tarar, in his closing remarks, appreciated the efforts of the guest speaker in creating awareness against the menace of corruption and forging a broader national consensus against it. Saying No to corruption has become a national slogan, thanks to your dedicated efforts, he said. He informed the audience that National Highway Authority, being the premier public sector organization in the field of road construction had launched a comprehensive reform initiative to prevent malpractice in public procurement through higher standards of transparency and accountability in the entire chain involving procurement, construction and maintenance of development schemes.
This was accompanied with effective monitoring along with strict compliance with Public Procurement Rules, he said. He said that as a result of these reforms for the first time in organizaon’s history, a substantial number of construction projects were undertaken at a cost much less than the engineer’s estimates leading to an overall saving of Rs. 300 billion to the national exchequer. He also assured the visiting guest about NHA’s complete support in the drive against corruption.” Let me assure you that the National Highway Authority will completely and firmly align itself with you to reinforce our fight against corruption”, he said.
