Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Some eight billion dollars were transferred abroad from Pakistan through foreign currency accounts during the last five years. The money was used for purchase of property in London, Dubai and other international cities.

This was according to the State Bank of Pakistan in a meeting of National Assembly’s Standing Committee on finance. It was held at Parliament House on Tuesday. MNA Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh presided over the meeting. The committee was apprised that in addition to this amount, a heavy sum was also moved to foreign countries through Hundi. The foreign currency holders were provided boundless perks and facilities in 1992.

In India, no citizen is permitted to keep a foreign currency bank account. Those who sent money outside the country would have to provide documentary proofs regarding its usage. At present, Pakistani citizens are not allowed to take more than 10,000 USD at a time while travelling abroad. The high-ups of SBP also told the committee that in 2002, the government had authorised Pakistani companies to invest outside Pakistan, up to a limit of USD 5 million dollars with the approval of State Bank of Pakistan. The representative of SBP said that more than Rs 600 million dollars were transferred during last three years.

The money, which is remitted to the accounts in Pakistani banks from abroad, is subject to an investigation to determine the purpose for which the amount came from a foreign country. Asad Umar, commenting on the matter, said, “If we disturb the foreign currency accounts, it will affect foreign investment so the matter of sending money abroad from Pakistan should be discussed in the committee’s meeting instead of referring it to the subcommittee,” the chairman added.