Pakistan starts a big crackdown on networks that launder money and send money to people in other countries.

A crackdown on money laundering and illegal hawala-hundi networks working across the country has been approved by the federal government.

At a high-level meeting led by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, the choice was made.

Officials decided that big business people and institutions that were involved in sending money abroad illegally would face harsh punishments. Those involved would not get off easy.

It was also decided that money sent back to the country must only go through official banking channels and legal systems that have been cleared. The government said that moving money through exchange companies would be made easier so that there are no more problems and everything is clear.

The ministers stressed how important it was to make the whole system for sending money abroad clear and impossible to cheat, while also discouraging any illegal methods of doing so.

The State Bank of Pakistan and the Federal Investigation Agency have also formed a working group to keep an eye on progress and attempts to stop illegal money flows.

During the meeting, the head of the SBP told everyone about the current rules for transferring money between banks. There were also high-level officials there, such as the FIA director general and finance secretary.