National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Lieutenant General (Retd.) Nazeer Ahmed announced that the traditional real estate file system will be abolished within 60 days. Speaking at a media briefing, the Chairman revealed that new real estate sector reforms are heading to the federal cabinet for final approval.
Under the new framework, the burden of transparency shifts entirely to developers. This move targets the speculative “file” culture that has historically fueled housing scheme fraud in Pakistan.
Unprecedented Recoveries: Rs. 2.9 Trillion in Three Months
NAB reported a massive financial breakthrough during the first quarter of 2026. Director General Operations Amjad Olakha detailed a total recovery of Rs. 2,962 billion, an amount the bureau describes as globally unprecedented.
The breakdown of reclaimed state assets includes:
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Karachi & Sukkur: 54,387 acres (Value: Rs. 2,891.38 billion)
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Balochistan: 51,577 acres (Value: Rs. 36.54 billion)
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Lahore & Multan: 4,034 acres (Value: Rs. 23.33 billion)
Additionally, NAB recovered Rs. 11.085 billion through plea bargains and auctions, while returning Rs. 1.78 billion to 6,475 victims of public fraud.
Critique of IMF and “Global Troika”
Chairman Ahmed did not hold back on international monitors. He dismissed the IMF diagnostic report on Pakistan as “baseless,” accusing the IMF, World Bank, and Transparency International of forming a “troika” that targets specific nations. He specifically questioned Transparency International’s methodology, doubting the validity of nationwide corruption rankings based on a sample size of only 800 respondents.
The Chairman further alleged that the IMF’s role in Pakistan has become overly intrusive, claiming the institution is “entering the bedroom” of national policy. He suggested that IMF ratings are often used as a tool against countries not aligned with U.S. interests.
Internal Shifts and Accountability
Addressing political cases, Ahmed noted that investigations against parliament members continue quietly, as NAB has ceased issuing press releases on such matters to maintain professional dignity. He also clarified that his current tenure was a government decision and not a personal request for an extension.
“NAB does not retain a single penny of recovered funds; everything is deposited directly into the Federal Consolidated Fund,” the Chairman stated, distancing the current administration from the bureau’s controversial past.
