ISLAMABAD: Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar tasked State Bank of Pakistan Governor Ashraf Mahmood Wathra on Sunday to investigate Rs1.5 billion financial fraud committed in the National Bank of Pakistan.

A female assistant vice president, along with four other bank officers, had been arrested for allegedly withdrawing Rs1.5bn from the accounts of the Abandoned Properties Organisation (APO).

The APO was set up in 1971 after the dismemberment of Pakistan to manage movable and immovable properties belonging to former East Pakistani citizens.

Mr Dar asked Mr Wathra to investigate the matter and submit a report to the finance ministry within three days.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has registered a case against the accused under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, Anti-Corruption Act and Pakistan Penal Code.

Published in Dawn December 26th, 2016