Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the professional independence of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and its mandate to protect national resources.

He made the remarks during a meeting with NAB Chairman Lieutenant General (retd) Nazir Ahmed, who called on him here.

The prime minister reviewed NAB’s performance and commended its transformation into a technology-driven institution. He praised the adoption of modern tools, including AI-assisted investigations, and lauded NAB’s e-office framework, saying it aligned with the government’s goals of austerity and transparency.

Shehbaz Sharif also appreciated the bureau’s focus on public service.

Briefing the prime minister, the NAB chairman said the bureau recovered Rs6.213 trillion last year, a record figure. He added that 2.98 million acres of state and forest land, valued at about Rs5.99 trillion, had also been recovered.

Nazir Ahmed said Rs180 billion had been returned to 115,587 victims of fake and fraudulent housing and investment schemes, calling it a national service that helped restore public trust.

He said initiatives such as NAB’s Khuli Katcheri and Central Complaint Cell had bridged the gap between the state and citizens, ensuring the bureau functioned as a platform for grievance redressal rather than intimidation.

During the meeting, the chairman presented NAB’s Annual Report 2025.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar was also present.