Netting income: Database helps FIA hunt hundi operators

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has developed a database of persons involved in hundi/hawala (illegal money transfer) payments, and with the help of the information gleaned from the database it has started a crackdown against them.

Sources said the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) have closely worked and coordinated with the FIA in its efforts to develop the database, adding the two organisations have shared with the agency the lists of persons, who have been involved in this illegal practice.

Under the National Action Plan, FIA is mandated to take action against such persons. In this connection the FIA Lahore on Friday arrested three persons accused of doing this illegal business in two different raids conducted at a local hotel of Landa Bazar. The FIA Anti-Human Trafficking Cell (AHTC) Lahore also arrested six persons  who were wanted in different cases.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 20^th, 2016.