ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Wednesday directed his cabinet to “double up” their efforts to curb money laundering and said those indulging in the practice were “the nation’s enemies and did not deserve any leniency”.
Chairing a high-level meeting to review progress on efforts against the menace of money laundering, the premier condemned the practice and said that not only did the country encounter a severe financial crisis due to embezzlement of public funds, but the entire nation was also pushed towards a quagmire of loans.
He reiterated that money laundering posed a serious threat to national security and directed the authorities to ensure it became an “expensive risk and criminals did not go scot-free”.
Earlier in the meeting, the interior secretary briefed PM Imran about progress on administrative and legislative measures taken to specifically combat money laundering so far.
Law Minister Dr Farogh Naseem, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Accountability Shahzad Akbar, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General (DG) Lt Gen Syed Asim Munir Ahmed Shah, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chairman, Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) DG, home secretaries and other senior officers concerned were also present on the occasion.
