NA informed of intensified FIA crackdown on illegal forex trade and hawala networks

The Ministry of Interior told the National Assembly on Wednesday that field offices of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) have been instructed to prioritise action against illegal foreign currency operators and hawala-hundi networks to help curb unlawful foreign exchange trading.

In response to a written question by Shazia Marri, the ministry said that while smuggling largely falls under the mandate of Pakistan Customs, FIA personnel posted at immigration checkpoints have also been directed to remain vigilant against such activities.

The ministry presented enforcement data for operations conducted since January 2025, reporting that 551 raids were carried out, 576 cases registered, 703 accused arrested, and 324 cases resulted in convictions.

The information was part of the Interior Ministry’s written reply to the assembly, outlining steps taken to address illegal foreign exchange trade and smuggling. It highlighted the active role of the FIA in collaboration with other agencies in monitoring and intercepting unlawful currency dealings across the country.

The ministry also provided written responses on other unrelated issues. In reply to a question by Sher Afzal Khan about encroachments on green areas along Islamabad Club Road and Murree Road, it said 10 hotels and motels had developed illegal parking spaces on the green belt, which were demolished on August 6, 2024, with cases filed in the court of the senior special magistrate of the Capital Development Authority.

In a separate reply to Syeda Amnah Batool on Pakistan’s space programme, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the country’s first Hyper-Spectral Satellite (HS-I) was launched on October 19, 2025, and is undergoing in-orbit testing, with image data expected to be available by the end of January 2026. A national framework is being implemented to use the data for agriculture, environment, disaster management, mineral exploration and planning.