PESHAWAR, Dec 7: The Director-General of the NWFP chapter of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Tahir Rafiq Butt, on Friday claimed that the bureau managed to save Rs1 billion each year for the exchequer, especially after unearthing a pension scam in the province.

During a briefing at the Media Centre, he said a project worth Rs6.3 million had been launched under supervision of the NAB to computerise the revenue records of the province. The project was looked after by a provincial minister.

The project was aimed at helping people get rid of injustices by patwaris and other government officers, he said, adding that the function of the revenue department would be improved and matters pertaining to transfers and postings would be resolved on merit.

The most important measure undertaken so far was the arrest of the officials of the NWFP forest department who were involved in cutting of trees in Kohistan, he said.

Recommendations to remove the ban on cutting forest trees, after certain preparatory measures, had been approved by the federal ministry of environment, while the provincial government had formed a committee for the purpose, with adequate representation from the NAB.

Talking about driving and arms licences, he said the old system was faulty and corrupt elements misused their powers to issue fake cards and fake renewals, besides depriving many people of the papers they deserved.

Following a raid on the licences department and arrest of the corrupt officials, the system was fully computerised. The system was thus not only purged of corrupt people but the revenue to the exchequer increased several times over, he claimed.

Mr Butt said the NAB was focusing on three factors, namely awareness about corrupt practices, prevention of corruption and proper implementation of rules.

He said the NAB did not want to take action against any person on the basis of anonymous letters that lacked proof, adding that of the 60 per cent of public complaints only two per cent usually proved to be correct.

“Some of the complaints which are true, but happen to be of less value, are not accepted for action by us. These complaints are referred to other departments for further action.”

The NWFP Chief Secretary, Riaz Noor, also spoke on the occasion. He said a committee had been formed with representation of all the concerned departments in order to streamline the cutting of forest trees.