Islamabad

According to a report by International Monetary Fund cited by Samaa TV, Pakistan has been urged to take urgent measures to curb trade-based money laundering ahead of the federal budget for FY 2026–27.

The IMF reportedly expressed concerns over suspicious financial activities across sectors such as trade, banking, real estate, and other non-financial businesses. It called on the Pakistani government to strengthen oversight mechanisms and improve monitoring of suspicious transactions.

The report also highlighted weaknesses in the sharing of beneficial ownership information and said the IMF wants stronger reporting standards, particularly from non-financial entities.

Special concern was raised over the real estate sector, where suspicious transaction reporting was described as inadequate. The IMF reportedly viewed the performance of the DNFBP (Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions) framework as unsatisfactory.

Pakistan’s Federal Board of Revenue has reportedly intensified investigations into undeclared income and conducted raids on housing societies as part of efforts to improve compliance and identify hidden wealth.

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An IMF delegation is expected to visit Pakistan to finalise discussions on the FY 2026–27 budget. Talks with Pakistan’s Finance Ministry are expected to focus on tax targets, fiscal planning, economic strategy, development spending, and expenditure management.