Govt forms task force to bring back ‘looted’ money saved abroad

ISLAMABAD: The government has established a task force to bring back money illegally shifted abroad from Pakistan.

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has said that the decision in this regard was taken during the federal cabinet meeting on Wednesday chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Addressing the presser, the minister said a unit had been established at the PM House for coordination in measures for bringing back looted money from abroad.

The unit comprises officials from National Accountability Bureau and Federal Investigation Agency, he added. He also informed that Rs 80 billion had been saved days after abolishment of the discretionary fund. The public money was retrieved into the public exchequer after projects like laptop scheme were shelved.

The minister said the meeting also decided to implement uniform certificate distribution among all institutions irrespective of the student belongs to a madrassa or any other academic institution. An authority will also be established for protection and rehabilitation of street children, he added.

He said the Foreign Office has also been directed to make efforts for release of Pakistani prisoners languishing in foreign jails.

In addition, he said, the decision has also been taken that a uniform education system will be introduced at all levels. “The students at seminaries and English-medium schools will study the same curriculum.”

We will move forward taking into confidence all the provinces, he added. He also said that upholding rights of minorities is the responsibility of the country.

Mr. Chaudhry said the government has also decided to take measures against human trafficking.

The federal cabinet in its previous meeting on August 24, had revised working hours in government departments, abolished discretionary funds of the prime minister, federal ministers and members of the national and provincial assemblies and imposed a ban on first-class air travel by the president, head of the government, chief justice, Senate chairman, NA Speaker and other top government officials.