ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Accountability, Mirza Shahzad Akbar, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Swiss authorities that will enable the government to seek the bank account details of Pakistani citizens, proclaimed the ruling PTI party on Friday using its official Twitter handle.
Describing the development as part of its effort to bring back the plundered wealth of Pakistani people, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf said that the MoU would empower the two countries to “exchange … financial information on bilateral basis”.
A step ahead in bringing back looted wealth; Pakistan and Swiss governments have signed an MOU enabling exchange of financial information on bilateral basis which will enable Pakistani authorities to seek Swiss bank account details of Pakistanis.#TabdeeliKay100Din @ShazadAkbar pic.twitter.com/NtkVK2i1rZ
— PTI (@PTIofficial) November 30, 2018
The prime minister’s special assistant has been visiting Switzerland for the last couple of days. According to the ruling party, he is leading a high level delegation that “negotiated the up-gradation & implementation of automation of exchange of information on bilateral level”. The two sides have also come up with “additional protocols” to expedite “Pakistani requests on preferential basis”.
A high level delegation led by SAPM on Accountibility @ShazadAkbar has also negotiated the up-gradation & implementation of automation of exchange of information on bilateral level and also additional protocols and MoUs for expediting Pakistani requests on preferential basis.
— PTI (@PTIofficial) November 30, 2018
The PTI government has always described money laundering as one of the biggest challenges facing the country, and Prime Minister Imran Khan tasked Malik Shahzad Akbar to take concrete measures and bring back the money that was siphoned off from the national exchequer by politicians, businessmen and other individuals and taken abroad.
The newly ratified treaty will be implemented forthwith and give access to critical financial information. @ShazadAkbar #TabdeeliKay100Din
— PTI (@PTIofficial) November 30, 2018
According to a PTI tweet, the MoU signed with Swiss authorities “will be implemented forthwith and give access to critical financial information” to Pakistan.
