National Accountability Bureau has launched a new online system to transfer recovered funds directly into the bank accounts of fraud victims, moving away from the manual process of issuing pay orders. The initiative was introduced to improve efficiency and provide convenience to victims who previously faced delays and procedural hurdles while collecting their money from NAB offices. In a statement issued on Wednesday, NAB said the new system has been designed to ensure timely disbursement of funds without requiring in-person visits, making the process easier for large numbers of affected individuals.
The system was formally launched at a ceremony chaired by NAB Chairman (retd) Lt-Gen Nazir Ahmed, who supervised the first phase of transfers. During this initial rollout, victims of the B4U fraud received their funds directly in their bank accounts, marking a major operational shift for the bureau. Until now, NAB had been returning recovered amounts through pay orders, issued to a limited number of victims at a time. This method required beneficiaries to travel to NAB offices, often resulting in long waits and inconvenience. With the new digital arrangement, the entire process has been streamlined to allow direct transfers at scale.
At the launch event, NAB’s Islamabad/Rawalpindi office successfully transferred Rs. 878.709 million to 5,008 victims of the B4U scam in a single day. This represents a significant step in distributing recovered money more swiftly and equitably among those impacted. NAB stated that the introduction of this system will not only accelerate the disbursement process but also enhance transparency and accountability in the distribution of recovered funds.
The B4U case has been under investigation since February 2021 following complaints lodged with Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan and by affected individuals. The inquiry concluded with the accused admitting liability of Rs. 7.3 billion. Out of this total, Rs. 3.7 billion has so far been recovered and is in the process of being disbursed among 17,250 victims. NAB has assured that the remaining amount will be transferred to victims once further recoveries are made. By shifting to an online system, NAB aims to close gaps in the compensation process and strengthen public trust in its handling of financial fraud cases, while offering victims a faster, more convenient way to receive their dues.
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