Pakistan begins nationwide hawala-hundi crackdown

Pakistan has approved a nationwide crackdown on money laundering and hawala-hundi operations in a high-level meeting led by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.

According to the Geo News report, the government decided that strict action would be taken against major business figures and institutions involved in moving funds abroad through illegal channels. Officials said remittances must be routed through banks and other lawful systems, while loopholes in money changer-based transfers would be tightened to improve transparency.

The meeting also approved a joint working group made up of the State Bank of Pakistan and the Federal Investigation Agency to monitor progress and regularly review enforcement efforts.

Separately, the FIA said it had foiled an alleged human-smuggling attempt in Karachi, taking 33 women into custody and arresting agents during raids near the Passport Office in Saddar.