In a significant step toward justice for thousands of defrauded citizens, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Lahore has officially initiated the disbursement of Rs 3.2 billion to the victims of the infamous Eden Housing Scam. This latest installment marks the fifth phase of compensation and demonstrates NAB’s continued commitment to public restitution and anti-corruption enforcement.
The cheque distribution ceremony took place at NAB Lahore, overseen by Chairman Lt. Gen. (R) Nazir Ahmad and NAB Lahore DG Ghulam Safdar Shah. The event emphasized NAB’s efforts in ensuring that financial relief reaches those affected by fraudulent housing schemes without unnecessary delays or bureaucracy.
According to NAB officials, over 11,880 victims had filed claims amounting to Rs 13 billion. However, NAB Lahore secured an impressive plea bargain of Rs 16 billion, surpassing the total claimed amount by 23%. So far, Rs 11.8 billion has been recovered from the Eden Housing administration, and with this Rs 3.2 billion installment, the disbursed total now exceeds Rs 8.6 billion.
Importantly, NAB has modernized the process, eliminating the need for victims to visit offices. Now, compensation is being sent directly to victims’ bank accounts via a new digital mechanism—an important step in improving transparency and accessibility.
Internal Reforms and Future Action
Chairman Nazir Ahmad praised NAB Lahore for its relentless work and announced a nationwide crackdown on fraudulent housing projects and illegal land allotments, in coordination with provincial governments. In addition, NAB is collaborating on real estate reforms to prevent such scams in the future.
The chairman also highlighted significant reforms in NAB’s operations under the current leadership. These include:
- Public grievance hearings (Khuli Katcheri)
- Business and Overseas facilitation desks
- Enhanced privacy protections for suspects
- Integration of AI in investigations
- Launch of a Land Directorate
- New Anti-Money Laundering guidelines
DG NAB Lahore added that the bureau had recovered Rs 236 billion in total, of which Rs 233 billion has been disbursed to nearly 94,000 victims. NAB Lahore has also filed 1,381 references in accountability courts, with 1,265 decisions already delivered.
In recognition of their service, certificates of appreciation were awarded to the Combined Investigation Team (CIT) for their exemplary role in successfully investigating and resolving the complex Eden Housing case.
For comparison, similar challenges in national infrastructure can be seen in the Pakistan monsoon deaths 2025, where mismanagement and weak systems led to devastating consequences—underlining the need for continued institutional reform.
