ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Tuesday instructed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to launch an “indiscriminate” crackdown on the “big fish” involved in the illegal hawala-hundi business.
The directive was issued during a meeting chaired by Naqvi at the FIA Karachi Zone office.
Addressing the meeting, Naqvi emphasized the need to go after the major operators of the hawala-hundi network, warning that no pressure should deter the agency from taking strong action against this illegal trade.
“Indiscriminate action should be taken against this mafia,” he said, underscoring the importance of targeting the key players involved in the underground money transfer business.
Naqvi also highlighted the issue of the beggar mafia tarnishing Pakistan’s international reputation. He directed the FIA to take strict measures against the agents responsible for sending professional beggars abroad. These individuals, he noted, are causing significant damage to the country’s image.
The minister called for a comprehensive strategy to deal with this issue and instructed authorities to arrest agents who have gone into hiding, leveraging cooperation from all provinces to apprehend them.
In addition to these issues, Naqvi ordered a zero-tolerance policy towards those involved in the illegal sale of fake medicines, stressing that those caught should face imprisonment. He also instructed FIA officials to take stringent action against the smuggling of non-customs paid goods and individuals carrying more than $5,000 in foreign currency while traveling abroad.
FIA Karachi Zone Director Nauman Siddique briefed the minister on the challenges and performance of the Karachi Zone, while additional officials from various branches of the FIA also participated in the meeting.
