Pakistan is set to introduce sweeping reforms in its real estate sector, with the government preparing to abolish the long-criticised “file system” within the next two months, according to Lieutenant General (Retd) Nazir Ahmed.

Speaking informally to journalists, the chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) revealed that the proposed real estate reforms will be presented to the federal cabinet for approval. Once implemented, the reforms are expected to shift full responsibility onto developers, fundamentally restructuring how property transactions are conducted across the country.

He stated that the abolition of the file system, widely associated with speculative trading and legal ambiguities, would bring greater transparency and accountability to the sector.

Addressing broader economic concerns, Nazir Ahmed dismissed the International Monetary Fund’s assessment of Pakistan, calling its diagnostic report “baseless” and asserting that global institutions rarely offer clean endorsements. He claimed that NAB’s recovery performance over the past three months was unprecedented, with all recovered funds deposited into the federal consolidated fund.

The NAB chairman also questioned the neutrality of Transparency International, raising concerns about its funding sources and survey methodology.

He added that cases against parliamentarians remain ongoing, though NAB has reduced public disclosures, and several cases have been referred to other agencies. Emphasising institutional reform, he noted that the current NAB prioritises the dignity of the accused and differs from past practices.