LAHORE, Nov 20: The office of Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) director-general in Islamabad has sent a proposal to the government, suggesting revival of the FIA link offices in Washington, London, Hong Kong, Dubai and Tokyo “in larger national interest”.
The document, a copy of which is available with Dawn, says the offices are needed to develop a better and closer cooperation with international law-enforcement agencies in combating money-laundering and other transnational monetary crimes.
The FIA link offices were established in London (1975), Dubai (1976) and Hong Kong (1977) to identify and report about individuals, business groups, gangs and agencies based abroad and involved in activities that amount to criminal offences scheduled under the FIA Act. “These were set up with special reference to white collar crimes detrimental to the economy and integrity of Pakistan.”
The link offices have been dealing with under- or over-invoicing of imports and exports, flight of capital from Pakistan, drug-smuggling, illegal immigration, smuggling of precious stones and antiques and acquisition of assets by Pakistanis based abroad. They have also been rendering services to various law-enforcement agencies in Pakistan and abroad.
The document says the link offices had performed their functions effectively over the years and proved their worth by providing specific and timely information about those working against the economic interests of Pakistan.
It says these link offices have been helping the FIA and other law enforcement agencies in Pakistan unearth cases of over- and under-invoicing, bogus exports, smuggling attempts and illegal immigration.
Since the closure of these offices, the FIA as well other law-enforcement agencies have been facing great difficulties in matters requiring collection of information, evidence and verification abroad. Absence of these offices has adversely affected the overall FIA performance, the document says, suggesting that the monetary benefits resulting from the operation of these offices easily out-weigh the allocation required for running these offices.
It says the government’s liberal policies of deregulation and lucrative incentives for investment are bound to generate greater economic activity in the country. Whereas, the genuine businessmen and entrepreneurs must be given full assistance by the government agencies, there is greater need for keeping a vigil on potential malpractices or individuals or groups that may try to take undue advantage of the incentives being offered to genuine business concerns.
There are a number of liaison officers posted in foreign embassies who are in contact with foreign and local agencies, the document says, suggesting: “The FIA link offices can be placed in our embassies.”