PM announces biggest anti-money laundering operation.

Highlighting self-reliance, PM Imran urges investors to promote wealth creation, profitability Foreign Office told to promote country's soft image at int'l fora through proactive economic diplomacy ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government will launch the biggest operation against money laundering in Pakistan's history. While speaking to journalists at the PM Office, where he recalled that the US State Department had said that money laundering worth $10 billion takes place from Pakistan annually.

"Since yesterday, we have been hearing hue and cry from Sindh," said the prime minister in an apparent jibe aimed at the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) whose leaders are facing an inquiry in relation to fake bank accounts in the SC-mandated JIT's report. While speaking about the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and latest instalment of loan, PM Imran said that the fund will lend money to Pakistan on lenient terms than previous times.

The prime minister said that the initial four months of his government were difficult as the production of electricity and gas, and Pakistan Internal Airlines (PIA) were all in losses. He said that the country is still facing issues but there is no crisis situation, terming disorder as the biggest issue of the country.

Following a series of action in wake of the JIT report prepared by the FIA, the federal government on Friday released a list of 172 alleged fake accounts owners whose names have been placed on the Exit Control List (ECL). Top PPP leaders including party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, former president Asif Ali Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur are among those placed on the no-fly list.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and former chief minister Qaim Ali Shah are also included in the list. On Thursday, CM Murad said his name was fitted" in the report presented by the JIT probing the case pertaining to laundering of several billion rupees through fictitious bank accounts in the country.

SELF-RELIANCE: PM Imran also said that the mindset of running the country through foreign debts damaged it and that the government will have to quit the policy of relying on others in a bid to adopt self-reliance, urging investors to promote wealth creation and profitability. Addressing a conference of envoys in Islamabad, the prime minister said there is no respect of the one who keeps asking others for money.

He stressed the need for eliminating...