KARACHI: Ghalib Ali Bandeshah, director general of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), yesterday said the authority has recovered Rs13bn ($130m) for the national exchequer during the last one year.
Addressing the members of Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (Kati), he said Rs6bn has been recovered from corruption and fraud in the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), Employees Old-age Benefit Institution (EOBI) and other cases. Another Rs7bn has been recovered on account of illegal gateways or VoIPs (Voice over Internet Protocol) and other activities against government institutions, he said. The FIA had requested the government to provide GSM locators for further strengthening the monitoring of illegal telephone connectivity.
Talking about the TDAP fraud related to export development fund, he said Rs230m has been recovered and further investigations are underway and some of the cases had presented before the court of law.
Regarding Rs35bn illegal export of gold, the director general said the FIA and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) would jointly work for retrieving the foreign exchange. He said four accused in the case have been detained for further investigations.
Bandeshah said, the FIA has aimed at implementing strict regime for document screening at the immigration stage. “The purpose is to ensure that Pakistanis going abroad should carry proper documents for avoiding bad name for the country,” he said.
The agency has also initiated crackdown against spurious drugs and urged the members of Kati and others to inform any suspicious activity regarding production of fake medicines.
The FIA director general termed the cybercrime as ‘crime of future’ and requested the parliamentarians to legislate cybercrime-related laws for effective prevention.
On a query raised by the business community about the special counters at airport for immigration purposes, he said, in the next 15 days, the staff would be deputed at all the counters, which were not operational, at present.
To another query regarding the postings and transfers in FIA were notified under influence, he said, the government or any other political party had no influence on the changes within the authority.
INTERNEWS
